Amaravati: Move to install Tipu statue riles BJP

Amaravati: State BJP leaders are vociferously opposing plans to install a Tipu Sultan statue in Kadapa district's Proddatur by a section of people. The BJP leaders have warned that statewide agitations will be held if the decision is not withdrawn.

"The idea of installing Tipu Sultan's statue, an expansionist person who tormented many Indians and especially women, must be immediately withdrawn, otherwise statewide agitations will be inevitable," warned BJP general secretary S Vishnu Vardhan Reddy on Saturday.

He warned that the BJP will not allow the statue installation at any cost and alleged that Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy may worship a barbarian (Tipu Sultan), but cannot impose him on them. "We won't let it happen at any cost. Reddy may worship a barbarian like Tipu Sultan but he can't impose him on us.

This country belongs to Shri Ram, Mahatma, Buddha, Swamy Vivekananda but not such mass murderers," he claimed. YSRCP Proddutur MLA Rachamallu Siva Prasada Reddy is reportedly supporting the plan of the Muslim community in Proddatur to install Tipu Sultan's statue.

BJP state president Somu Veerraju, speaking to media in Kakinada on Saturday, demanded from the state government to immediately withdraw the foundation laid for the statue allegedly by the local MLA.

According to Veerraju, police on Friday morning arrested BJP cadres who protested against the foundation. He condemned the arrests.

"By these arrests, they created ways to intensify the protests. BJP doesn't fear these kinds of arrests and will not retreat on this issue," he said. He said that Tipu Sultan caused the death of lakhs of Hindus and installing his statue was objectionable as it would hurt the sentiments of Hindus.