Karnataka witnessed huge violence last year over plans to celebrate Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary.
The Karnataka government's controversial plan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan is a policy decision, the High Court has said, turning down a petition that had challenged the decision. The verdict came a day after the court's comment that Tipu Sultan was not a freedom fighter but a monarch who was merely safeguarding his own interests.
The court had questioned the government's move to celebrate the 18th Century monarch's birth anniversary on November 10 for the second consecutive year - a decision that had resulted in statewide protests last year, which cost the lives of two people.
A section of locals in Kodagu district, and the opposition BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the RSS, is vehemently opposed to the celebrations. Their contention is that Tipu Sultan was a tyrant who forcibly converted his Hindu and Christian subjects to Islam.
Questioning the Congress government's argument - that Tipu Sultan was a hero who had fought against the British and therefore worthy of respect - Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee had questioned, "What is the logic behind celebrating Tipu Jayanti? "
Tipu, he had said, "was not a freedom fighter, but a monarch who fought the opponents to safeguard his interests."
Questioning the logic behind celebrating Tipu Jayanti amid fears of increasing communal tension, Justice Mukherjee had also observed that last year's celebrations had resulted in a law-and-order situation.
This year, the RSS and its affiliated organisations have decided to hold agitation across the state which will culminate in a mega rally in Bengaluru on November 8.
After this morning's verdict, K P Manjunatha, who had filed a petition in court challenging the government's move, appealed to the government to call off the celebrations.
"Many kings have ruled the country and there is no meaning in celebrating one king as a state issue when it is affecting relationship between community people," said Pavan C Shetty, advocate for the petitioner. "The Chief Justice has asked to make a necessary representation before the Chief Secretary of the state. At any cost Chief Secretary has to consider the matter before the 8th of this month."