Karnataka's BJP govt to black out Tipu from state board books

BENGALURU: Karnataka's BJP government on Wednesday said it would remove history lessons which glorify 18th-century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan from state board textbooks. "We are going to take a decision (about the Tipu chapter)... we won't allow such things to happen. We're going to withdraw everything," said chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
The government has already cancelled state celebrations of Tipu Jayanti on November 10, the birth anniversary of the ruler. The CM's statement is in sync with the party's stand on the issue, raked up this year by BJP MLA Appachhu Ranjan, who had made specific references to Tipu being glorified in Classes 7 and 10 history textbooks .
Ranjan is from Kodagu district, where Tipu allegedly unleashed atrocities on Hindus. Last week, he wrote to the state government to remove chapters glorifying Tipu. Primary and secondary education minister Suresh Kumar has already referred the MLA's letter to the textbook committee and sought a report. Kumar has asked the committee to invite the MLA to its meeting on November 7 to record his views .
While right wing organisations say Tipu was a tyrant who unleashed terror on Hindus, Congress calls him a freedom fighter who took on the British empire . Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, who had started the official celebration of Tipu Jayanti in 2015 when he was chief minister, said BJP was trying to divert attention of the people from its failure to provide relief to flood victims.
"Only a dead government can be like this. You (BJP) prove you are alive by responding to people's plight. Don't conspire to divert attention of people. First you give account of relief works you have taken; then we will talk about Tipu and Savarkar," Siddaramaiah tweeted. Further, the Congress leader said, it is only BJP which is calling Tipu a fanatic. "Is it not true that Tipu fought the British? Whether it is true or false that history should be known to children," he said.
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References

1. ^{^} Tipu Sultan (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
2. ^{^} Tipu Jayanti (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
3. ^{^} Kodagu district (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
4. ^{^} British empire (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

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