Bangalore: Karnataka Higher Education Minister DH Shankaramurthy is at the centre of a controversy over his remarks against Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler of Mysore.
The BJP leader's demand for removal of a lesson on Tipu Sultan from school History books for what he said was his anti-Kannada stance and forcing conversions on Hindus has led to strong protests by political parties, historians, scholars and Muslim organisations across the state.
The minister's passing reference to Tipu's rule at a college function on Wednesday and his refusal to withdraw the remarks against the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ has provoked remarks from his cabinet colleague Iqbal Ansari of the JD(S).
The opposition Congress is seeking his dismissal over the issue.
"History should not be raked up to create controversies. There are many who sacrificed for India's freedom. Tipu was one among them. He fought against the British rulers long before the war of independence," Ansari, said.
Inviting Shankaramurthy to an open debate on Tipu's attributes and contribution to the state or the country, Ansari said there was no basis for raking up history and showing the erstwhile ruler in poor light.
"We in the JD(S) will take up the issue at the coalition partners' coordination committee meeting to nip the controversy. We will ask the BJP leaders to restrain their minister (Shankaramurthy) from making such remarks in public and justifying them further," Ansari affirmed.
Shankaramurthy is reported to have told students at a local college that Tipu did not deserve to be called "hero" since he forcibly converted thousands of Hindus to his religion, demolished temples and made Persian the official language, replacing Kannada in the princely state during his rule (1782-1799).
"As per the historical records of those times, Tipu minted coins in Persian. One of his swords had an inscription in Persian denoting his intentions to kill the infidels (kafirs) who did not believe or respect his religion," Shankaramurthy recalled.
Terming the remarks against Tipu irresponsible and unwarranted, playwright and actor Girish Karnad said branding Tipu anti-Kannada and seeking withdrawal of his lesson from school textbooks was ridiculous and smacked of political motivation.
"This is a very irresponsible statement made, unfortunately, by a BJP minister. There's no basis to say Tipu was anti-Kannada. This has nothing to do with education but politics, signalling a larger agenda," Karnad, a Jnanpith award winner, said.
"In fact, the Wadiyars, who were the last rulers of the princely Mysore state, had used English liberally in their correspondence and issued orders in that language. Does that make them (Wadiyars) anti-Kannada and less patriotic?" Karnad said on Thursday at a protest meeting against the minister's remarks.
Instead of burying the hatchet and cooling tempers, Shankaramurthy went on to justify his stand on Tipu and agreed to join the debate with his opponents.
Subsequently, when reporters sought clarification on his remarks at a news conference, the minister said young students should be taught only good things in history to help them grow as individuals and contribute to the good of society.
"Where is the need to teach the young minds about anti-Kannada people like Tipu?" I am not questioning Tipu's contribution or his bravery. I was only referring to some of his actions and attributes," Shankaramurthy asserted.
Angry over the anti-Tipu statements, the Congress state unit urged Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to either sack the minister or seek his apology for maligning a great ruler and offending the sentiments of the people, especially the Muslim community.
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