Bengaluru, (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday yet again strongly defended his government's decision to organise Tipu Jayanti, despite strong opposition.

Addressing the gathering during the Kanaka Jayanti celebrations in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah hit back at his political opponents for trying to portray Tipu in bad light by "manipulating" history.

He said that Tipu was not anti-Hindu, as was being projected by the BJP. "Before pointing fingers at Tipu, the BJP should shun its communalism and embrace secularism. That is the only way they can bring about 'parivarthane' (change), not by doing a parivarthana yatra," he said.

He also took a swipe at the JD(S)' to be launched election campaign under the name 'Kumara Parva'.

"If theirs is Kumara Parva, ours is 'Sadhana Parva'. We have given social and economic justice to more than 90% of the state's population," he added.

He also took a dig at his detractors for criticising his government for its 'jayanti' culture.

"The government is proudly organising 26 jayantis so that teachings of many social reformers can serve as an inspiration to the masses," he said.

Hailing Kanakadasa as not only a great poet, but also a social reformer, Siddaramaiah said that the Dasa literature would be translated by the government.

Siddaramaiah presented the 'Kanaka Shri 2017' award to K Gokulnath, the 'Kanaka Gaurava' award to Kabbinale Vasantha Bharadwaj, and the 'Kanaka Yuva Puraskara' to Gavisiddappa H Patil. All three of them were recognised for the contributions towards the 'dasa' literature.