The birth anniversary of legendary Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan on November 10 in Karnataka has become a contentious event in recent years, with the BJP and Sangh Parivar organisations opposing its commemoration even as the ruling Congress remained firm.
However, it seems Tipu's utility as a symbol to raise the BJP's ire seems to be spreading: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Republic Day unveiled a portrait of Tipu at the state assembly, promptly evoking criticism from the BJP.
Kejriwal had unveiled portraits of 70 national heroes, including freedom fighters and revolutionaries, including Ashfaqulla Khan, Bhagat Singh, Birsa Munda and Subhash Chandra Bose. BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma said people's sentiments would be hurt if the portrait of a 'controversial' personality like Tipu was put up.
The Sangh Parivar has seen Tipu as an Islamic hardliner who massacred Hindus and Christians in Karnataka, while the Congress has adopted a narrative of him being a freedom fighter. There were protests in Karnataka in 2015 over Tipu Jayanti, with two people being killed in unrest.
