The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has announced its plan to boycott the birth anniversary celebrations of the 18th century legendary king Tipu Sultan organised by the state government starting tomorrow (10 November).

"It's a total boycott on our part, no public representative from our party at any level should participate in the official function," state BJP President Prahlad Joshi told PTI.

Calling Tipu Sultan a "traitor", "fanatic" and "anti-Kannada", he said that all 44 BJP legislators will not participate in the "Tipu Jayanti" celebrations organised by the Congress government under Siddaramaiah.

The critics of the Muslim king, claim that Tipu Sultan was an intolerant ruler who forcefully converted Hindus and persecuted Christians. However, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters that Tipu Sultan was a patriot who gave his life while fighting the British.

Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore was born on 20 November,
1750 and was the ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore.

He was both respected and hated by the British for being a strong adversary. Even historian Sir Walter Scott put Tipu along with Napoleon as one of the greatest adversaries the British ever faced in history.

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