BJP MLA Appachu Ranjan demands removal of lesson on Tipu Sultan from school textbooks
Bengaluru, Oct 23: Madikeri BJP MLA Appachu Ranjan on Wednesday demanded that the lesson on Tipu Sultan, the controversial 18th century ruler of erstwhile Mysore kingdom, be removed from textbooks as it carries wrong information.
"The lesson on Tipu Sultan contains wrong information.
It should be removed. I have written to Education Minister S Suresh Kumar that he (Tipu Sultan) is not a freedom fighter," Ranjan told PTI on Wednesday.
He said Tipu Sultan had a "history of plundering and expanding his kingdom" and run his administration inPersian language.
"Hence, he is not a freedom fighter," headded.
"I came to Bengaluru to personally hand over the letter to the minister, but he is in Belagavi.
Once he comes here, I will give it to him with documents and other proof, substantiating my claim," the MLA said.
Ranjan alleged that Tipu Sultan had converted more than 20,000 Christians and 10,000 Kodagu residents.
"Even today, Muslims in Kodagu district have their family names identical to the Hindu Kodavas", he added.
The MLA alleged that Tipu had also changed the names of many towns and localities and gave them Persian names.
"Records are available that he had also plundered many temples.Hence, wrong information should not be spread and only the truth should be brought out.
That's why I say he is not a freedom fighter," Ranjan added.
The BJP government in Karnataka on July 30 cancelled the annual birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu, being organised since 2015.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had started the Tipu Jayanti celebration as an annual affair on November 10 since 2015.
It was continued by the Congress-JD(S) coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy last year, despite opposition from BJP and others.
Kodagu district was marred by widespread protests and violence during the first official celebration in 2015, during which a Vishwa Hindu Parishad worker Kuttappa had died.
BJP and right wing organisations had stiffly opposed Tipu Jayanti celebrations, calling the ruler a "religious bigot".
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
