Stone Pelting On Ganapati Procession: Last Time Mandya Witnessed Such Attacks On Hindus Was During Tipu Sultan's Rule

Karnataka, under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has seen a disturbing rise in communal, linguistic, and regional tensions.

On 11 September 2024, violence ensued in Mandya's Nagamangala after stones were allegedly hurled at a Ganapati procession from a nearby mosque. As a result, tensions prevailed, and several shops were set on fire in the area, causing injuries and losses in lakhs of rupees.

This is the latest flashpoint, igniting outrage and fear among the Hindu community, but it's far from the first instance of communal tensions under Siddaramaiah's watch.

In 2015, the Congress government made the controversial decision to officially celebrate Tipu Jayanti, triggering large-scale protests. Hindus, including large number of Kodavas, and Christians took to the streets, opposing the glorification of a ruler who had a documented history of persecuting their communities.

During one such protest in Kodagu (popularly known as Coorg), one person was killed in clashes. The celebration, however, continued in subsequent years, despite the clear communal polarisation it sparked.

The 1790 Tragedy In Mandya

In 1790, Tipu Sultan's army massacred over 700 Mandyam Iyengar families during Naraka Chaturdashi at the Narasimhaswamy temple in Srirangapatna.

This atrocity, which targeted women and children gathered for Diwali celebrations, led the Mandyam Iyengars to flee and resettle in areas like Nagamangala and Melukote. To this day, Melukote mourns the massacre, refraining from Diwali celebrations in remembrance of the tragic event.

Tipu and his relentless efforts to enforce religious conversions and destroy Hindu temples left an indelible scar on Karnataka's history. Yet, CM Siddaramaiah's government went out of its way to celebrate him, fuelling communal tensions in the state.

The Current Tensions In Karnataka

This isn’t just about religious festivals — it’s about a growing sense of insecurity. Hindu groups feel the Congress government, led by Siddaramaiah, has allowed radical elements to thrive, emboldened by the state's inaction. The attack on the Ganapati procession isn’t just a one-off; it’s a symbol of a larger problem that Karnataka’s Congress government refuses to address.

CM Siddaramaiah’s policy of minority appeasement has drawn sharp criticism not only from Hindu groups but also from political analysts who see it as a deliberate strategy to consolidate votes.

But this vote-bank politics has come at a high price: it has created an atmosphere where communal tensions are simmering just below the surface, waiting to erupt.

In the past, Congress leaders such as Tanveer Sait had demanded a '100-foot statue' of Tipu Sultan in Mysuru. This invited criticism from all quarters, including from the minority community, when some other leaders said that the erecting statues may not be 'Islamic'.

H C Mahadevappa, currently a minister in CM Siddaramaiah's cabinet, extended his support to rename the Mysuru airport after Tipu Sultan and defended his proposition by stating that Tipu was born in India, and attempted to reform the Hindu society by getting rid of medieval practices like the Devadasi system.

Earlier this year, Tipu Sultan's flag was hoisted at Kailasapuram and Ambedkar Park, prompting former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha to question Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwar. This created tensions locally, which had to be diffused.

Another controversy was triggered this year when Karnataka's Minister for Cooperation K N Rajanna made a statement that the foundation for Kannambadi Katte (KRS dam) was laid by Tipu Sultan, and that the Mysuru royal family had little role to play in its construction.

Last year, there were riots in Ragigudda, an area in Karnataka's Shivamogga district. It led to many Hindu homes being targeted during an Eid procession. This is the same district that BJP leader B S Yediyurappa is elected from. The BJP blamed the Congress for not taking proper action against the perpetrators and accused the government of being responsible for the alleged decline in the law and order situation in the state.

Tipu Sultan’s reign was one of the bloodiest in Karnataka’s history, especially for Hindus and Christians. His forced conversions and violence left deep scars on the region. Fast forward to today, and the Congress government’s refusal to take decisive action against those responsible for the Mandya attack only deepens the historical wounds.

If the Congress continues down this path, it risks not just alienating a significant portion of Karnataka’s population but also allowing communal tensions to fester. The comparison with Tipu Sultan is not mere rhetoric — it’s a reflection of how history can repeat itself when governments fail to ensure the safety and security of all communities.

The last time Mandya saw attacks like this, Tipu Sultan ruled the region — and the horrors of his reign are a lesson the Congress would do well to remember.