Bengaluru, Nov 11: BJP?party workers, led by former chief minister B?S?Yeddyurappa, staged a protest in front of Town Hall on Thursday against Tipu Jayanti celebrations.
Addressing protesters, Yeddyurappa alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was dividing people on the lines of religion and caste. “The BJP is not against minorities. Siddaramaiah is bent on celebrating Tipu Jayanti only to appease minorities.”
“I had worn a turban and had held a sword at a function. It did not mean that I justified Tipu Jayanti. Tipu was against the Kannada language. He indulged in large scale religious conversions in Kodagu. He demolished many temples.?He fought against the British only to save his province, not the country,” Yeddyurappa said and demanded that Siddaramaiah provide sufficient evidence to prove that Tipu was not communal.
He alleged that Siddaramaiah's government took up the Tipu Jayanti issue at the cost of drought relief works.
“Many parts of the state are reeling under drought. Siddaramaiah does not have time to meet the prime minister and finance ministers to seek drought relief funds. But he has enough time to celebrate Tipu Jayanti. He had spent Rs 10 crore on Tipu Jayanti instead of spending the funds for drought relief works,” he alleged.
“Sixteen members of Hindu organisations have been killed after the Congress party came to power, but the government has not done anything to prevent the murders,” Yeddyurappa said.?
MP?Shobha Karandlaje, former ministers R Ashoka and Suresh Kumar accompanied Yeddyurappa during the protest. They were taken into preventive custody when they were about to take out a procession to Vidhana Soudha. The police released them later. They donned black bands on their arms to express anger.
The city police had made massive security arrangements by deploying additional forces at sensitive places. Security was tightened at bus stands, railway stations and religious places to prevent any untoward incident.
Comments
Add new comment