Tipu row: VHP demands Siddaramaiah’s ouster

The Vishwa Hindu Parisahad (VHP) on Friday demanded Karnataka chief minister S Siddaramaiah’s resignation, saying that he has has no moral right to continue in the chair after a VHP leader was killed in violence during a protest against Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations.

“The Karnataka chief minister has no moral right to continue in the chair. He should apologise and resign forthwith for glorifying crusaders like Tipu undermining the dignity of the people of the state,” VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said in a statement.

Meanwhile, right wing outfit blocked roads across Karnataka protesting against the state government observing the birth anniversary of the 18th century Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan, and over the death of its functionary in violence during the celebrations in Madikeri.

VHP and Bajrang Dal activists blocked roads during the hour-long protest in various parts of the state, including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Shivamogga and Hassan with undeclared bandh in some cities, police said. In Bengaluru, the protest was held in front of the Town Hall in the heart of the city where VHP activists vented their anger at CM Siddaramaiah whose government decided to celerbrate Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary from this year. The celebration was held on November 10.

As the controversy persisted, two men were stabbed, one fatally, near Mangaluru late last night after a meeting organised by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) supporting the celebrations turned violent. Police, however, did not link the stabbing incidents to the Tipu controversy.

Harish, aged 28, was stabbed to death at Vagga Halegate, Bantwal Taluk, 25 k.m away from Mangaluru, by unidentified men, who came in a car, when he was on his way home. His friend Samiulla, who was with him, was also stabbed. He had been hospitalised in Mangaluru, police said.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped in Dakshina Kannada district for three days after VHP and Bajrang Dal called a bandh on Friday in protest against the Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations. The bandh call was given late last night after the stabbing incident. The two Hindutva outfits had earlier decided to stage protests against the death of VHP leader Kuttappa in Madikeri in Kodagu district on November 10.