Earlier, a complaint was filed at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru against the Jnanpith Award victor Girish Karnad for his remark on naming the Bengaluru global airport after Tipu Sultan.
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Later, the Bengaluru police also received a complaint against Karnad for insulting Hindus and Kempegowda, who belonged to the Vokkaliga community.
“He died because of that injury”, Surjewala said adding that while people were returning from the anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, a few people had opened fire at them leading to another death.
They acquired threats over the celebration of 18th century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan’s start anniversary by the state authorities on Tuesday throughout Karnataka. Speaking to CNN-IBN, he said, “I have never insulted Kempe Gowda”. The protestors holding placards shouted slogans against Girish Karnad and condemned the silence of state government over the issue.
According to official sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who held a meeting with Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday evening, had made a decision to order a probe into the circumstances leading to the VHP leader’s death.
Shah said he would meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and also call on the prime minister in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Pratap Simha BJP MP in Mysore also gets death threats on social media.
Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP Prathap Simha, who received a threat to his life in a Facebook post, has approached Mysuru police.
The Karnataka government’s decision to celebrate Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary on November 10 created a huge controversy as right-wing groups led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP opposed the move. The airport has been named after Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru.
In an attempt to appease the Vokkaligas, Siddaramaiah was also quick to distance himself from Karnad’s statement and declared that there are no plans to change the name of the Bengaluru airport.
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Karnad had yesterday justified his view saying Kempegowda was not a freedom fighter like Tipu, angering the Vokkaligas and sparking demonstrations today. Still, the Bengaluru worldwide airport has been named against him. Giving a political colour to Karnad’s statement, both the BJP and the JD(S) criticised the playwright Karnad stating that he should stick to his profession.
