India
Karnataka Home Minister Defends Tipu Sultan, Criticizes RSS Role in Freedom Struggle
By Karan Manral
Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday that Tipu Sultan fought four Anglo‑Mysore Wars and that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had no role in India’s freedom struggle. He added that the RSS did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, Dandi March, Non‑Cooperation Movement, or any Round Table Conferences, yet it is now dictating terms. Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, also cited a book in which former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa praised Tipu Sultan, accusing the BJP of “pure opportunistic politics.” He alleged that the BJP adopts a pro‑minority stance to win votes but changes its position after elections. The comments followed a memorandum from the cultural organisation Tehrik‑e‑Khudadad to Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar, requesting the reinstatement of the official celebration of Tipu Sultan Jayanti on November 10 and a review of school textbooks to ensure historically accurate coverage of Tipu Sultan and his father, Hyder Ali. The proposal is pending before the Chief Minister’s Office. Tipu Sultan Jayanti was first introduced in 2015 by the Congress government led by former chief minister Siddaramaiah and was discontinued in 2019 by the then BJP‑led government.
Frequently asked questions
What did Priyank Kharge say about the RSS's role in India's freedom struggle?
He said the RSS had no role in the Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, Dandi March, Non‑Cooperation Movement, or any Round Table Conferences.
When was Tipu Sultan Jayanti first introduced and when was it discontinued?
It was first introduced in 2015 by the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah and discontinued in 2019 by the then BJP‑led government.
What request did Tehrik‑e‑Khudadad make to Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar?
They requested reinstatement of the official celebration of Tipu Sultan Jayanti on November 10 and a review of school textbooks to ensure historically accurate coverage of Tipu Sultan and his father, Hyder Ali.