Mangauru (TOI): The state government deliberately wanted to disrupt the Diwali celebrations by observing Tipu Jayanti on November 10 instead of November 20, which historically is the date on which Tipu Sultan was born, alleged Mangaluru MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, on Wednesday.
He said that the state government is directly responsible for the events at Madikeri and the rest of the state on Tuesday. An FIR should be registered against chief minister Siddaramaiah and he must be made the first accused in the case, he added.
Kateel, who returned from Madikeri on Wednesday, said that there was no provision to hold the procession as part of Tipu Jayanti. "Who gave the permission? If the district administration gave the permission, it shows the failure on part of the state government to bring the situation under control," he said.
Kateel said that the district administration was given information by Sangh Parivar that people from Kerala will be arriving for the event, but the former ignored this. "The miscreants came with an intent to create trouble," he alleged.
On the death of VHP leader Kuttappa, he stated that the government was deliberately trying to mislead people by saying that he had fallen to death while fleeing during lathicharge. "I visited the spot. I did not find anything that could cause such a death. According to eyewitnesses, his head was smashed with a stone. The CM's statement on his death even before the postmortem is complete is irresponsible," he said, adding that Rs 20 lakh compensation must be offered to victim's kin.
Karnad controversy
Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad said that naming of Bengaluru International Airport after Tipu Sultan was the chief minister's opinion. "If this was not the case, the CM who was present on the same stage, should have rebutted it. His silence is tantamount to support for Karnad's statement," he said.
BJP SUPPORTS BANDH: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said the bandh on Friday to protest against the death of VHP leader Kuttappa in Madikeri will be supported by the BJP. "The state will be responsible for any untoward incident on that day," he said.
