Tensions gripped the town of Karnataka after an Islamic procession featuring posters of tyrant Tipu Sultan and songs like ‘Jab chali Haider ki Talwar’ was organised on the occasion of Eid Milad. Notably, some of the posters installed for the procession had green painted on the map of Bharat and the ‘Muslim Empire’ written on it, with posters of Aurangzeb. All of this is happening under the newly elected Congress government in the state. The videos and the pictures from the procession are going viral on social media.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned the Siddaramaiah government over communal tensions in Shivamogga town. As of now, section 144 has been imposed in the city and the situation is taken under control with heavy police deployment.
Posters of Tipu Sultan installed
As per a report by the Times of India, on October 1, an Islamic procession was organised in Shivamogga on the occasion of Eid Milad. Tensions started after, some Muslim youths erected a large portrait of erstwhile Mysuru state ruler Tipu Sultan at Ragigudda-Shanti Nagar on the outskirts of the city. Right-wing activists took objection, claiming that the portrait depicts Tipu Sultan killing a Hindu warrior.
Shivamogga SP GK Mithun Kumar reached out to leaders from both communities to address the issue. He urged them to persuade the youths to have peaceful Eid Milad celebrations. The SP instructed the organisers to cover the portrait with a curtain to prevent the situation from escalating further.
A few hours later, a Muslim youth heightened tensions by using his blood to inscribe the words ‘Sher Tipu’ on the portrait. Following this, security measures in the city were beefed up.
Sontes pelted from both sides
As soon as the processions reached Ragigudda area around 8 pm, stones started pelting from both the sides and the situation went out of control.
“Some vehicles and houses were damaged due to this. Some police officers have also been hit by the stones. We have asked all of them to file a complaint. Security has been tightened in the area. A group of people have already been arrested in connection with the incident. Based on video clips and information from witnesses, the miscreants were arrested. Section 144 has been imposed in the area as a precautionary measure,” SP Mithun Kumar said.
The SP further said, “2 Rapid Action Force (RAF) platoon, 20 Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and 500 Home Guard personnel deployed. A case has been registered in connection with the incident. Complaints are also taken from police personnel who have been pelted with stones.”
The official also informed that the Eid Milad procession was peaceful apart from the Shantinagar-Ragigudda incident and the situation is presently under control.
Notably, visuals getting viral from the procession show that this was not a normal peaceful procession but was provocative. From swords in the procession to songs featuring Haider and posters featuring Tipu Sultan, there were many things against law.
Scenes from #Shivamogga:
– Celebrated Tipu Sultan, butcher of Hindus.
– Declared Akhand Bharat as Muslim Empire.
– Stone pelting on Police.
– Stone pelting on nearby houses.
– People who took part in procession had machetes in their hand and songs like “Jab chali Haider ki… pic.twitter.com/PDHOYSiBzf— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) October 2, 2023
CM calls it an attack on minorities
On the stone pelting incident in Shivamogga, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said, “An Eid Milad procession was underway when some miscreants pelted stones. They also threw stones at the police. So far 40 people have been arrested. Our government will not tolerate such activities. The situation is under control now.”
The prohibitory orders, imposed under Section 144 of the CrPC, are intended to maintain law and order in the area, and strict action will be taken against any individuals found violating these orders. The district administration is actively monitoring the situation, emphasizing the importance of public cooperation in preventing further disturbances and ensuring peace and security in Ragi Gudda.
BJP lashed out at Congress following provocative procession
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), BJP MLA CN Ashwath Narayan shared photographs showing how Islamists took over the Eid procession. In one of the photographs, there was a large sword with text written in Urdu on it. Another photograph showed an image of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, who killed thousands of Hindus outside a Masjid. The other two photographs showed large cutouts of Tipu and Islamic flags waving in the city.
He wrote, “It is condemnable that the Congress government, which does not prioritise solving the Cauvery problem, is aiding and abetting communal riots. The state Congress government is openly supporting the conversion of the communal garden of peace into a place for sociopaths by allowing installation of the fanatical Tipu’s cutout and Talwar arches in Shivmogga.” (Translated using Google Translate).
ಕಾವೇರಿ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬಗೆಹರಿಸಲು ಆದ್ಯತೆ ನೀಡದ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಕೋಮು ಗಲಭೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲು ಕುಮ್ಮಕ್ಕು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಖಂಡನೀಯ.
ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತಾಂಧ ಟಿಪ್ಪುವಿನ ಕಟೌಟ್, ತಲ್ವಾರ್ ಕಮಾನುಗಳನ್ನು ಅಳವಡಿಸಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಸರ್ವ ಜನಾಂಗದ ಶಾಂತಿಯ ತೋಟವನ್ನು ಸಮಾಜಘಾತುಕರ ತಾಣವಾಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ ಮಾಡಲು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ… pic.twitter.com/DBJIJqy8Tb
— Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan (@drashwathcn) October 1, 2023
Channabasappa, a BJP MLA from Shivamogga, expressed concern about the troubling situation in his constituency. He urged the government to take action against the elements causing trouble and not empower them. Recently, an incident occurred where a cook was returning from work and was attacked on the head. It is not clear who the perpetrators were. These violent elements are known to attack people with bottles and enter homes to engage in violence. This seems to be a deliberate attack on innocent people. Channabasappa said he would avoid further commenting until all the facts were known.
Later police imposed 144 section to control these outlawed people but the damage was done by then. Talwar in the procession, Talwar in the hands.. and the system was just a mute spectator.. 4/n pic.twitter.com/mPE6QhAw58
— Chakravarty Sulibele (@astitvam) October 2, 2023
The official social media handle of BJP in Karnataka wrote on platform X, “This is a video of the Talwar procession made by fanatics in Shimoga. The Congress government, which gave permission, should tell what message such a Talwar procession sends to the society. What other evidence is needed that the Congress government is standing in support of the Jihadi organizations that said that they will finish all the Hindus so that not a single one remains! What is the background of the government asking for permission for Ganapati, which is established by Hindus for Ganesha Chaturthi, for such processions which disturb the peace of the society..? What else can be expected from this Jihadi government!”
This is what the netizens say
A verified Twitter user Incognito wrote, “Scenes from #Shivamogga: Celebrated Tipu Sultan, butcher of Hindus. Declared Akhand Bharat as Muslim Empire. Stone pelting on Police. Stone pelting on nearby houses. People who took part in procession had machetes in their hand and songs like “Jab chali Haider ki talwar” were played in the background”.
Another user Bala wrote, “Muslims brandishing swords in Eid Milad-Un-Nabi procession. Peaceful Shobha Yatras provoke them but display of naked swords aren’t provocative. Gandhi ke sapno ka Bharat”
Muslims brandishing swords in Eid Milad-Un-Nabi procession. Peaceful Shobha Yatras provoke them but display of naked swords aren’t provocative.
Gandhi ke sapno ka Bharat 🤲#GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/XpeCscaDBU
— BALA (@erbmjha) October 2, 2023
Another verified user wrote, “This shocking Talwar procession in #Shivmogga, Karnataka permitted by the Congress govt, is a stark reminder of their appeasement politics. What message does this send to society? Or is this a signal of eradication process? The question of the safety of Hindus is being raised, but it appears that the Congress govt is more interested in appeasing extremist elements than ensuring the safety of its citizens.”
A user wrote, “This is not Pakistan but Bharat…. This is what you get for voting for Congress”
This is not Pakistan but Bharat…. This is what you get for voting for Congress… pic.twitter.com/A46Fkqc2Xr
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) October 2, 2023
