Thousands take out rally against Girish Karnad in Bangalore

Tipu Sultan issue is being frowned at to such an extent that Jnanpeeth Puraskar victor Girish Karnad, who is an eminent writer and theatre-personality, gets death threat for his remark that Kempegowda global Airport in Bengaluru could be named after Tipu Sultan.

Karnad’s remark upset the dominant Vokkaliga community, who form 18 per cent of the state electorate as Kempegowda was from their community.

Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar has defended the decision of the State government to observe Tipu Sultan Jayanti. “It’s prime minister’s job to ensure that martyrs like Tipu are not dishonoured”, he said. “If people tweet (threats), it is nearly certain that they don’t have guts”, he said, adding Kalburgi was murdered by contract killers who do not tweet.

Using the Hindi phrase “ulta chor kotwal ko dante” (pot calling the kettle black) to dismiss BJP’s demand for Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged “the BJP is spreading hatred across the country”.

The BJP has also sought a probe in the death threats to playwright and Jnanpith awardee Girsh Karnad and Member of Parliament Prathap Sinha on social media. “They have posted the martyr Kutappa along with my photo and they have threatened me you are also going to meet with the same fate”, he said.

On Tuesday, a VHP activist was killed in Madikeri town in Kodagu district of Karnataka during the birth-anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, which led to a violent clash between two groups.

Decision has been made to name Bengaluru airport after him (Kempe Gowda).

At a function in the city to commemorate Tipu’s birth anniversary, Karnad said the airport should have been named after the Mysuru ruler who was born in 1750 at Devanahalli where it (airport) is located instead of Kempe Gowda who was not a freedom fighter.

Meanwhile, urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu dismissed suggestions that Bengaluru airport should have been named after e th18th century Mysore ruler and not city’s founder Kempe Gowda. “Govt is not changing the name of KempeGowda Intl Airport to #TipuSultan airport”, Karnataka Chief Minister’s official twitter handle said. The Congress government in Karnataka should provide security to Girish Karnad.