Mangaluru: Christian and Hindu Associations stand in opposition against the move of the Congress Government’s encouragement to celebrate Tipu Jayanti across the state on November 10.
As a mark of this opposition, the United Christians Association staged a protest near the DC’s Office here on Friday morning, while the Hindu outfits under the aegis of Hindu Jagarana Vedike protested in the afternoon, both near the DC’s Office here on Friday, November 6.
Addressing the gathering, association president Alban Menezes said that the Christian community would observe the rest of November as ‘Black Month’ if the government sticks to its decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti.
Association member Robert Rosario said that Tipu had brutally killed over 60,000 Christians dwelling in Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada as he considered them as the messengers of the British. Apart from that, he also destroyed several Churches in his territory.
“The Christians and the Hindus in this part of the country heaved a sigh of relief when Tipu died. Hence, instead of celebrating his birth anniversary would be glad to celebrate his death anniversary.”
Historian MR Prabhu stressed that the public should restrain from calling Tipu as a freedom fighter in the first place, as the real freedom movement in India began only after 1857. He further said that Tipu was an extremist who stole the liberty of speaking Marathi and Kannada languages from his subjects and forced them to speak Persian.
Later during the day, Hindu Jagarana Vedike leader Satyajit Surathkal came down heavily on the Siddaramaiah led government for releasing crores of rupees in order to celebrate Tipu’s birth anniversary.
“Tipu was an Islam fanatic. Going by documented historic events, it is clearly evident that Tipu had enforced Islam as a religion on every Hindu in his province. In a place called Devaparambu alone, he had mercilessly killed over 30,000 Hindus and forcefully converted several others. He destroyed maths and temples wherever he travelled and built mosques. A classic example is the renowned Moodalabagilu Anjaneya Temple in Srirangapattana temple, which he demolished and replaced with a mosque.”
“In addition to this, Tipu had developed hatred towards Kannada and the culture associated with it. Through various discussions and debates that have been held on him in the recent past, it is established that he was dead against Hindutva. A few anti-social elements that are in favour of Tipu are mooting to celebrate his birth anniversary and the state government is supporting them for sheer political gain. This is an insult to Karnataka, Kannada and also the Hindus,” he said.
