Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:37pm on 15 Dec 2023,Friday India
Tipu Sultan is again at the centre of a Congress vs. BJP squabble in Karnataka after MLA Prasad Abbayya from the ruling party suggested renaming Mysuru Airport to Tipu Sultan Airport. The proposal triggered opposition protests, with the BJP framing it as a Hindu vs. Muslim narrative against their icon, VD Savarkar. Historically contentious, Tipu Sultan's legacy has been exploited for political polarization, which intensified ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. BJP state chief Nalin Kateel even urged locals to "kill... followers" of Tipu. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticized the Congress. The row over Tipu Sultan - who historians believe was a fierce opponent of British rule in India, and died in battle against them dates back to 2016, when the then Congress government led by Siddaramaiah began celebrating his birthday on November 10.
