Bengaluru, Oct 21 (DHNS): Union Minister of State for Skill Development Ananthkumar Hegde has written to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat not to include his name in the official invite for Tipu Sultan Jayanthi celebrations scheduled to be held on November 10 in the district.

Hegde, through his personal secretary, has communicated to the CM’s secretariat that he considered Tipu Sultan “anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada” and he did not want to be associated with the birthday celebrations of the former ruler. A copy of the communication has also been marked to the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner.

The state government will celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanthi at the district level across the state on November 10. Hegde also stated in the letter that his name should not be mentioned during the course of the celebration. As a member of Parliament from Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, protocol mandates that Hegde’s name is included in the invite for all government events held in the district.