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Explainer: What a former CM Siddaramaiah has to do with a Tipu Sultan | India News



The players

A book titled, “Siddu Nijakanasugalu“, stirred Karnataka politics even before it could be released, with former CM Siddaramaiah calling it an attempt to defame him in the election year. Karnataka goes to the polls later this year.
The book apparently draws a parallel between Siddaramaiah’s tenure as Karnataka CM to 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, whom the BJP brands as a Muslim fanatic.

What’s in the book

The book reportedly accuses the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of “appeasement politics”, highlighting certain controversial and communally sensitive issues and incidents.
Posters advertising the book launch event, slated for Monday, showed its cover having a photograph of Siddaramaiah wearing an attire resembling Tipu Sultan and holding a sword.

A complaint

Siddaramaiah said, “Everything is yellow for those with a jaundiced eye. Who wore the dress like Tipu and held a sword in their hand? It was Yediyurappa and Shobha Karandlaje. Who wrote the foreword for Sheikh Ali’s book on Tipu, isn’t it duality?”
Alleging a BJP role behind the book, Siddaramaiah said, “Purposely, to humiliate me ahead of the elections, they are bringing out a book. It is totally defamatory.”

A relief

Siddaramaiah’s son moved a Karnataka court, which on Monday stayed the book release. The court said the book was published without Siddaramaiah’s consent, which is mandatory in such cases.

And, the BJP

Karnataka Higher Education Minister CN Ashwath Narayan of the BJP tweeted, “I appreciate the effort to find answers to many questions along with revealing many sensitive issues through the book ‘Siddu Nijakanasugalu’. I am going to participate in the public launch of this book.”

Timing

The BJP support to the book comes close on the heels of the Congress’s “PayCM” campaign, launched in September 2022, targeting CM Basavaraj Bommai, alleging the BJP government demands a 40% commission from builders and contractors for approving development projects.


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