YADGIR: A controversy is brewing over the Tipu Circle here, and has the potential of taking communal colour, with one organisation setting a deadline for removal of the Tipu nameboard at the junction and another remaining adamant about it.
In 1996, a junction on Hattikuni Road was named Mohammed Abdul Kalam Azad Circle, but the name was changed unanimously by the civic body in 2010 as Tipu Sultan Circle. A poster of Tipu Sultan and a flag have also been placed there recently.
However, leaders of the Jai Chhatrapati Shivaji Sene have claimed that the naming of the junction was illegal and demanded that Tipu Sultan’s name be removed from there. They have also planned a rally on February 27 from Gandhi Circle, passing through Hattikuni Circle to reach Tipu Circle where they will stage a protest.
Founder president of the Jai Chhatrapati Shivaji Sene, Parashuram Shegurukar said, “The district deputy commissioner and the municipal commissioner should themselves arrive at the spot and clear the nameboard. If they don’t, Hindu activists will do it and the district administration will be responsible for the fallout”.
Three days ago, Hindu groups had demanded that the Tipu Sultan nameboard should be removed and the junction be named after Veer Savarkar. However, Tipu’s fans have insisted that come what may, they will not allow the name board to be removed.
Abdul Karim of Tipu Sultan United Forum said, “Even if we have to give up our life, we will not allow the name board to be removed. There are junctions named after different people in Yadgir, and we have no objection to that. I don’t understand why they are pained about Tipu Sultan’s name who was a patriot. If they want to name a road or junction after Savarkar, we have no objection. We don’t want any sort of controversies”.