Karnataka High Court Pulls Up State Govt, Says Tipu Was Not A Freedom Fighter

The Karnataka High Court yesterday asked the state government to explain the reasoning behind its plan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, who it said, was not a freedom fighter, but a monarch who looked after his own interests.

Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee presiding over the division bench observed that Tipu was a monarch who “fought the opponents to safeguard his interests”.

The HC bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by K P Manjunatha who challenged the government’s decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of the eighteenth century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom.

The Chief Justice also questioned the move in light of the communal tensions that flared up last year during the celebrations.

While the public counsel M R Naik defended the government move, calling Tipu a great warrior who fought the British, the counsel for the petitioner, Sajan Poovaiah, called the king a tyrant who killed people of various communities such as Kodavas, Konkanis and the Christians.

The high court is expected to proceed with the case today.