Tipu not a freedom fighter, will drop him from textbooks: Yediyurappa

Stating that he disagreed with people who called Tipu Sultan a 'freedom Fighter', Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the government was trying to drop lessons on the erstwhile ruler of Mysore from history textbooks.

Bengaluru:Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that he does not consider Tipu Sultan a freedom fighter, and made it clear that the government will not allow any Tipu Jayanti celebrations to take place in the state.

Speaking to reporters at a press meet in the state capital, Yediyurappa said, "We are not allowing anyone to celebrate Tipu Jayanti. We will not allow such things to happen."

The Chief Minister further stated that all previous government orders in this connection will be withdrawn.

Adding that he disagreed with people who consider Tipu Sultan a "freedom fighter", Yediyurappa said that the government was trying to remove lessons about the erstwhile ruler of Mysore from textbooks.

The development comes two days after Karnataka Education Minister Suresh Kumar wrote to Managing Director of Karnataka Textbook Society to submit a report in three days on BJP MLA Appachu Ranjan's proposal to strike off references to Tipu Sultan from history textbooks.

Tipu Jayanti celebrations, started by the state government during former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s tenure, took place every year on November 10.

Read: Remove Tipu from school syllabus, Kodagu BJP MLA writes to K'taka education minister