Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 10: The state high court, on Friday November 9, refused to order interim stay against the celebration of Tipu Jayanti in the state.

A division bench of the high court presided over by Chief Justice, Dinesh Maheshwari, which heard two separate public interest litigations filed in this regard, said that the court does not intend to interfere with the policies and decisions of the government at this stage, as already clarified in the years 2016 and 2017. The bench said that it would not be prudent to issue an order that is contradictory to the earlier stand.

In the meanwhile, the police department is on high alert in the entire state to face any eventuality on account of Tipu Jayanti celebrations today as certain organizations are opposed to it. It has beefed up security particularly in districts like Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga and Shivamogga which are treated as sensitive. Additional director general of police (law and order), Kamal Pant, said that rapid action force contingents have been deployed in the city and Kodagu. He said that those who try to disrupt peace will face stringent legal action.

Ministers clarify

Minister H D Revanna chose to dismiss the notion that chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, has chosen to stay away from Tipu Jayanti state level function because of the superstition that such a participation might deprive him of his position. "BJP lost power because they opposed Tipu Jayanti. I have not advised Kumaraswamy against participating in the programme as some media have made it out," he clarified.

Minister, Bandeppa Kashempur, said that there is no need to assign any special significance to the absence of chief minister from this function. He claimed that JD(S) has been celebrating Tipu Jayanti in its offices every year even before Congress began to celebrate it.