Proposal to name Mysuru airport after Tipu draws ire

NT Correspondent

Belagavi: Congress M L A from HubballiDharwad East Prasad Abbayya has proposed that Mysuru airport be named after 18th century monarch Tipu Sultan.

He made the remarks in the Assembly on the concluding day of the winter session at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Thursday. The suggestion sparked a sharp response from BJP MLAs.

Many in the Congress, the state’s Muslims and Kannada nationalists regard Tipu as a freedom fighter who fought British colonial rule till his dying breath.

BJP and their Hindutva compatriots on the other hand claim that the sultan was anti-Hindu and committed excesses against the community during periods of military aggression.

Abbayya elaborated on the proposal before mediapersons on Friday.

“Yesterday, I had proposed that the Mysuru airport be named after Tipu Sultan. However, those from the BJP opposed it very strongly. This was very much expected. We have been seeing them oppose Muslims, even the great patriots among the community. Tipu was a patriot and the first freedom fighter. He fought three Anglo-Mysore wars,” he said.

“He contributed a great deal. In that context, I have proposed his name to be suitable. I’ll take this up with the chief minister as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal proposed that the Mysuru airport be named after another Mysuru king Krishnaraja Wodeyar instead, citing his “immense contributions to the state and the country.”