Delhi:
In his first decision after coming back to power, BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government cancelled the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Karnataka on Tuesday. According to news agency ANI, Yediyurappa ordered Kannada and Culture Department to not celebrate Tipu Jayanti. The decision was taken during cabinet meeting on Monday. Karnataka state government has been celebrating Tipu Jayanti since 2015.
Tipu Sultan was a ruler of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore and considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatna against the British forces. Tipu Sultan, however, is a controversial figure in Kodagu district as Kodavas (Coorgis), a martial race, believe that thousands of their men and women were seized and held captive during his occupation and subjected to torture, death and forcible conversion to Islam.
