Mumbai: Ahead of the controversy-laden naming ceremony of the Malad sports complex after Tipu Sultan on Republic Day, the police security around the area has been beefed up. Congress leader Aslam Sheikh had earlier declared that the complex shall be named after the 18th-century Mysuru leader Tipu Sultan on Republic Day this year, drawing a lot of flak from right-wing politicians and Hindu nationalists.
The BJP workers in the economic capital had reportedly gathered at the Atharva College in the area and planned on carrying a protest march from there to the sports complex in question. Meanwhile, the Mumbai police had also deployed a number of officers on the planned march track, suspecting possible conflict there.
Many BJP leaders including MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar and Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Shriraj Nair criticized the move, claiming that this is an attempt to create unrest in the country on an auspicious day. As Shaikh attended the event, workers of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Bajarang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad staged a protest at the venue, demanding a renaming.
The protestors claimed that the 18th century Mysore ruler persecuted Hindus and his name was unacceptable for a public facility. But Maharashtra minister Aslam Shaikh, who inaugurated new facilities at the garden in the Malvani area stated that it always bore the name of Tipu Sultan, and there was no fresh nomenclature.
Police detained some of the protesters before the event, officials said. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "Tipu Sultan is historically known for committing atrocities against the Hindus in his state. The BJP will never accept the honouring of such personalities. The decision to name the garden after Tipu Sultan should be revoked." While Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, who is guardian minister for the Mumbai suburban district in which Malvani is located, told reporters that no such decision had been taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) during a separate event.
Speaking during the event, minister Aslam Shaikh said, "The garden is named thus (after Tipu Sultan) for the last 15 years, but nobody objected to it till now. I even know a BJP MLA who is pushing for repairs of a road in the area which is named after Tipu. He conveniently keeps mum over it as he wants votes. As part of the renovation of the existing garden, tennis and badminton courts have been built and they are open to all irrespective of religion or caste," he added.
Asked about Aaditya Thackeray's comment, Shaikh told reporters that he was there to inaugurate new facilities and not for naming the garden.
With agency inputs
