Tipu Sultan is nation's asset: DK Shivakumar'
Bengaluru, November 10: Minister DK Shivakumar said that country’s first freedom fighter Tipu Sultan was not just the property of the state, but he was an asset of the country and it was the duty of the state to pay respect to him by celebrating his jayanti.
Inaugurating the Tipu Jayanti programme organized by the Kannada and Culture department at the Vidhana Soudha banquet hall here on Saturday, he said that being a brave soldier, Tipu had developed sericulture, horticulture, agriculture and other sectors to help the common people.
No politics in Tipu’s name
During the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Vidhana Soudha, President Ramnath Kovind had recalled Tipu’s contributions to the country. But the BJP leaders have been trying to disturb peace and harmony for their selfish politics, he alleged.
Poojas were being offered in the name of Tipu Sultan in Sri Ranganatha Temple at Srirangapatna, Nanjundeshwara temple at Nanjanagudu and other temples across the state every day. But despite having such instances, the BJP leaders have been conspiring to expose Tipu as anti-Hindus, he regretted.
Food and Civil Supplies department Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said that Tipu jayanti was being celebrated since many years. But since four years, it was being celebrated as a government programme. BJP’s protest against Tipu jayanti was just for political reasons. The BJP has been trying to play communal card ahead of Lok Sabha elections by opposing the Tipu Jayanti. BJP state president B.S Yeddyurappa, leaders Jagadish Shettar, R. Ashok and others had participated in Tipu Jayanti programme and appreciated him. But now, when it was announced as the government programme, they have been opposing it. It was the habit of the BJP, he alleged.
Kannada and Culture Minister Dr. Jayamala said that at a time when the society was being divided in the name of caste and religions, the ideologies and principles of brave soldier Tipu Sultan who was known for his communal harmony, tolerance and public help, should be emulated.
Dr K Sadashiva of Mysore University said that Tipu Sultan had built the Mysore state as a ‘welfare state’ through his pro-people works like distribution of lands to the exploited classes, construction of tanks and introducing various reforms. In his army, people given place in his army based on eligibility irrespective of castes and creeds. He has fixed a monthly salary for the soldiers to help their families. He had created an environment where women were living without fear, he recalled.
MLA R. Roshan Baig presided over the programme in which Shanti Nagar MLA NA Haris, MLC Rizwan Arshad, Karnataka Urdu Academy president Mubeen Munavvar, Ameer-a-Shariat Hazrat Maulana Sageer Ahmed Khan Saheb Rashadi and others were present.
“Unnecessary confusion is created on the absence of Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy from the Tipu Sultan Jayanti programme. But the CM was taking rest as per the doctors’ advice. So, his name was not mentioned in the invitation card. But he has sent a message on the Tippu Jayanti”.
- Zameer Ahmed Khan, Food and Civil Supplies Minister
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Decision on next Maharashtra CM to be taken 'in a day or two', says Shinde
New Delhi (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said he had "good and positive" discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda on the issue of government formation in the state.
Speaking to reporters here before leaving for Mumbai, Shinde said the decision on the next chief minister of Maharashtra will be taken "in a day or two" in another meeting of the Mahayuti coalition in the state capital.
Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met Shah and Nadda late Thursday to thrash out a power-sharing pact for the next government in Maharashtra after the BJP-led coalition registered a thumping majority in the Assembly elections.
"We will take a decision (on Maharashtra CM) in a day or two. We have held discussions, and the discussions will continue. You will get to know when we take a final decision," the outgoing chief minister said.
Shinde said that he would not be an obstacle in the government formation in the state and abide by the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah.
"This 'ladka bhau' (beloved brother) designation is higher than anything else for me," he said.
Shinde said the meeting with Shah and Nadda was "good and positive".
"We all discussed the formation of government. There is good coordination between the allies, we are all very positive and we will honour the clear-cut mandate given to us by the people. We will form the government soon," he said.
"The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti in Mumbai," Shinde told reporters early Friday.
The Shiv Sena leader said the people of Maharashtra have re-elected them with a thumping majority and respecting the mandate is the topmost priority, not "running after posts".
Recovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses, the BJP bagged 132 Assembly seats, the highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti alliance. Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP also performed well. Sena won 57 while NCP bagged 41 seats.
The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a setback with the grand old party registering one of its worst performances in the Assembly polls as it won only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) won just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's (UBT) won 20 seats.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections were held on November 20, and the results were declared on November 23.
