BENGALURU: THE Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has further stirred up the cauldron on Tipu Jayanti celebrations with a warning that they will not allow the event to take place on November 10.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, VHP’s Joint National Secretary Surendra Kumar Jain said they would not disrupt the celebrations across the state, but they would not allow it to happen at all. “We will go to any limits within democratic boundaries, but we will not allow the government to celebrate this event. Even if the event is held in Vidhana Soudha, we will stop it,” he said.
Jain said they will confine themselves to activities that will be within the democratic set-up, but could not guarantee any peaceful protests. “Maintaining peace is the responsibility of the state. If, during our protests, peace is disturbed, then it is not our fault. It is the government which is disturbing peace by holding an event that is facing so much opposition,” he asked.
Jain also accused CM Siddaramaiah of disregarding public opinion and historical accounts and trying to push Tipu as a role model for the state and Muslim community. “Last year’s violence also does not seem to have taught him any lessons. How many more should die for him to establish Tipu as the role model of Karnataka?” he asked.