Islam Doesn't Permit Tipu Jayanti Or Statue: JD(S) Karnataka President C M Ibrahim

Janata Dal (Secular) Karnataka President CM Ibrahim has said that Islam does not permit celebrating Tipu Jayanti or installing his statue and hence, those making such statements should first consult Islamic clerics.

In response to Congress MLA and former minister Tanveer Sait’s plans to install a 100-feet statue of Tipu, either in Mysuru or in Srirangapatna, that he announced earlier this week, Ibrahim said there was no scope for the worship of idol worship, anniversaries of individuals or any processions for such people.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Ibrahim said,"Tipu Jayanti has been celebrated with the sole intention of vote bank appeasement".

Explaining that he had opposed the celebrations as Islam doesn't permit it, as reported by Asianet, he called the controversial Tipu jayanti celebrations 'a huge mistake’.

‘To top it now they are proposing a statue of Tipu. Our religion wont agree to it. There is nop scope for such changes among the Muslim community,‘ added Ibrahim.

On one hand he alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to create a rift between Gowdas and Muslims, and as far as the statue is concerned, he said Tanveer Sait knows nothing.

‘It is not Islamic culture to erect idols, worship them, apply kumkum and hence there is no question of a Tipu Statue being made’, he added.

Ibrahim also said he would go to court against the play book on Tipu Sultan ‘Tipu Nijakanasugalu’ (The Real Dreams of Tipu), authored by Addanda C Cariappa that was released by celebrated Kannada writer and Saraswathi Samman awardee Dr S L Bhyrappa on 13 November.

Ibrahim alleged that Tipu had been protrayed very negatively in the play and that he would personally go to court against it.

Accusing Mysuru Member of Parliament Pratap Simha of taking the ‘citizens of the cultural and educational town’ towards ignorance, Ibrahim asked if Simha would ensure return of the precious diamond gifted by the erstwhile ruler of Mysuru to Nanjundeshwara in Nanjangoodu.