BJP eyes 4th term as Kodagu refuse to bow to Tipu Sultan the Islamic tyrant 

09 May 2018 5:54 PM | Politics
408 Report

A pre-poll survey recently stated that the Tipu Jayanti issue would not play out big in the Karnataka assembly elections. While it has evoked mixed reactions in many parts of the state, it plays out in a big manner in this tiny district of Kodagu which is referred to as the Switzerland of India. 

The Congress is going to lose the election in the two constituencies of Kodagu over this issue says K S Poovaya, a local planter. The campaign trail has been extensively focused around Tipu and the Kodavas have vowed to defeat the Congress for celebrating Tipu Jayanti. The celebrations had turned violent two years ago and two persons died and this incident has come right back to haunt the Congress. Kodagu has two constituencies-Madikeri and Virajpet, both of which are held by the BJP. The issue is raised by both BJP candidates, Appachu Ranjan and K G Bopaiah during their campaign trails and it gains traction instantly. In a recent speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Congress celebrates jayantis of sultans, but not of the brave sons and daughters of Karnataka such as Madakari Nayaka and Onake Obavva.

In another speech he also made references to Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General K S Thimaya, both of whom are revered as Gods in Kodagu. The Kodavas are pleased that the PM raked up these issues. These are issues very sensitive to the Kodavas. Over a drink when the these topics come up there is a very passionate debate among the Kodavas. Take the case of General Thimaya, every Kodava believes that had Nehru not interfered with the two Generals there would not have been a Kashmir problem today. A few years back there was a sustained effort by the Kodavas to vacate the RTO's office in Madikeri. The RTO office was housed in the residence of General Thimaya and the Kodavas asked why one of the most corrupt offices must be housed in the residence of the great general.

Coming back to the issue of Tipu, the Kodavas say that they were betrayed and he made large scale attempts to convert them to Islam. Tipu had failed several times to take over Kodagu which he viewed as a link to Mangalore. The Kodavas had resisted several times approaches by the Sultan. The BJP which has ruled this coffee district where the river Cauvery is born is hopeful of another term. There are issues that many Kodavas have with the two candidates, but they are ready to overlook it as they feel that the return of a Congress government only means more minority appeasement. However the Kodavas would want the BJP to take up core issues such as environment protection, Cauvery clean and also minimum support price. They better work towards that says Anjali Ponappa, a home maker.

Courtesy: oneindia

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