Protesters held as Karnataka celebrates Tipu Jayanti

TIL Desk/National/Bengaluru/ The Karnataka government on Saturday celebrated the birth anniversary of the controversial 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom, Tipu Sultan, bringing the state under a thick security blanket amid threats of protest by the Bharatiya Janata Party and many Hindu outfits.

Calling Tipu a “religious bigot”, the state BJP unit had urged the Janatal Dal-Secular-Congress coalition government to drop its decision to celebrate ‘Tipu Jayanti’. As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders have been clamped in many districts of the southern state. No processions, either in favour or against the event will be allowed, officials said.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in districts like Kodagu and Chitradurga, coastal regions among others, where local communities are opposed to the celebrations. “Around 500 police personnel along with officials have been deployed in and around Vidhana Soudha (Bengaluru).. Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy will not participate in controversial Tipu Jayanti celebrations and has cited health reasons for his absence.