Distorting history for political gain an act of treachery: CM

Mangalore Today News Network

Hampi, Nov 04, 2017 : “People who do not know history can’t create history. One should not distort history to pursue their vested interests. If done for political gains, it would be an act of treachery to history itself,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the three-day Hampi Utsav, a mega cultural festival of dance, drama and music, at Hampi, the erstwhile seat of Vijayanagar empire, on Friday.

 

In a veiled attack on the BJP for criticising Tipu Sultan and branding him as anti-secular, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “People who do not know history have been criticising Tipu who fought with valour against the British. Tipu, like the Vijyanagar kings and also the rulers of other kingdoms, was secular. If the Nizams had not sided with the British, the latter could not have defeated Tipu,” he said.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to organising cultural festivals throughout the State, he said that it was necessary to protect, nurture and propagate the art, culture, tradition and lifestyles that prevailed during the rule of the kings for posterity and also to help youth understand the past and tread the right path for a better future.

Terming late M.P. Prakash as a cultural ambassador and praise him for taking the initiative in organising the Hampi Utsav at Hampi since 1987, he said celebrating Hampi utsav would help recapitulate the glorious past of the Vijayanagar empire, the rich culture and tradition that prevailed then. “With that in view, the government is committed to organising Hampi Utsav regularly on a grand scale. Mysore Dasara being celebrated on a grand scale is a legacy of the Vijayanagar kings,” he said.

Minister for Labour Santosh Lad and Minister for Women and Child Development Umashree spoke.

Allum Veerabhadrappa, N.Y. Gopalkrishna, E. Tukaram, Bheema Naik, B.M. Nagaraj, all legislators, and Bharathi Thimmareddy, zilla panchayat president, were among those present.

B.S. Anand Singh, MLA, who presided over the inaugural, while complimenting the government for taking keen interest in organising Hampi Utsav, said that the cultural festival should be held regularly on a grand scale and also underlined the need to improve the basic infrastructure facilities at Hampi, which is an international tourist destination, for the benefit of tourists.

Deputy Commissioner Ramprasath Manohar welcomed the gathering.


courtesy: The Hindu