Karnataka: BJP MP Srinivasa Prasad slams Yediyurappa over Tipu Sultan

The Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Chamarajanagar, V Srinivasa Prasad has criticised BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka for giving more importance to Tipu Sultan. Prasad said that the state government should concentrate on the drought relief works in the state. This statement of the BJP MP comes after the Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the government would drop everything related to Tipu Sultan. 

Speaking to the media Prasad said, "I have told you how many problems we have in administration in the state at present. I told it clearly, we are reaching 100 days after forming the government after the coalition government collapsed, the MLAs who were the reason to form the government in the state are now disqualified and they are on road now... When we have these many problems was it required to rise the Tipu Sultan issue at this point in time?"

READ | Karnataka CM: 'Govt To Drop Everything Related To Tipu Sultan'

Prasad said that Yediyurappa took the decision about removing lessons related to Tipu Sultan from textbooks in "hurry". "He must have thought about such a sensitive issue. History has been interpreted at different times in different angles by different people. It's a sensitive issue, Yediyurappa must not have taken the decision in hurry," Prasad said. 

READ | BJP MLA Wants Tipu Removed From Textbooks, JDS Says 'narrow Ideology'

'Drop everything related to Tipu Sultan'

Earlier, the Karnataka CM Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that the government will drop everything related to Tipu Sultan and Tipu Jayanti. Yediyurappa also mentioned the government is also thinking to remove everything related to Tipu Sultan in the textbooks. "About Tipu Jayanti, we are going to drop everything. We are also thinking to drop everything in the textbooks about him. I do not agree with people who say that Tipu Sultan was a freedom fighter," Yediyurappa said.

On Monday, Karnataka Education Minister Suresh Kumar asked the officials to look into the demand of a BJP MLA that the lesson on Tipu Sultan, the controversial 18th-century ruler of erstwhile Mysore Kingdom be removed from history textbooks, and submit a report in three days. The Primary and Secondary Education Minister has written a note to the Managing Director of Karnataka Textbook Society, asking them to invite MLA Appachu Ranjan and discuss the matter. 

READ | Education Minister Seeks Report On Demand To Remove Tipu Lesson

BJP cancels Tipu Jayanti

Earlier in July, taking its first decision after assuming power in Karnataka, the BJP government under BS Yediyuruppa has cancelled the Tipu Jayanti celebrated on the occasion of the birthday of Tipu Sultan on November 10 every year. The State Government's Kannada and Culture Department has taken the decision in a cabinet meeting to not celebrate Tipu Jayanti.

READ | BJP Govt In Karnataka Cancels Tipu Jayanti Celebrations After Assuming Power

(with ANI inputs)