Amid massive protests by Congress, a court ordered a stay on the release of BJP’s book titled ‘Siddu Nija Kanasugalu’. In the book, the saffron party compared former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah to Tipu Sultan.
The book was scheduled to be released today at 3pm. In this book, BJP highlighted alleged ‘misrule’ in Karnataka under former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
The Congress in Karnataka had lodged a police complaint against the release of a book that allegedly contains derogatory, imaginary and provocative writings on Opposition leader Siddaramaiah.
After the court’s order, BJP Spokesperson Vijay Prasad said, “We will ensure that contents of the book reaches public so that they know the truth.”
Congress slams BJP’s book
Congress staged massive protests in Bengaluru ahead of the release of the book
Soorya Mukundaraj, General Secretary of State Congress Legal Cell, said that the book contains a distorted image of Siddaramaiah on its cover page.
“This time also, there is an intention to stir communal peace by projecting Siddaramaiah in a certain way, which leads to communal disturbance in the society. If permission is given for this programme, it should be withdrawn and direction should be given for the organisers to cancel the book release programme,” he said.
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said that the book has no value and the BJP is doing this out of frustration. DK Shivakumar also said that “if Siddaramaiah did anything wrong, why aren’t the BJP taking any action?”
While speaking to news agency ANI, Shivakumar said, “It is a book without any value. It is the frustration of the BJP. If Siddaramaiah has done any wrong then who stopped them from taking actions. They have been rejected by people. We are Hindus and we respect Constitution.
Siddaramaiah calls the book ‘defamatory’
Siddaramaiah on Monday said the book about him is with an intention to humiliate him ahead of the Assembly polls in Karnataka and termed it “totally defamatory”.
“I don’t know, everything is yellow for those with a jaundiced eye. Who wore the dress like Tipu (18th century ruler of erstwhile Mysuru Kingdom Tipu Sultan) and held a sword in their hand, it was Yediyurappa and Shobha Karandlaje. Who wrote the foreword for Sheikh Ali’s book on Tipu, isn’t it duality?” Siddaramaiah asked, alleging BJP role behind the book. “Purposely to humiliate me ahead of the elections, they are bringing out a book. It is totally defamatory. I will see what is to be done legally,” he added.
The posters about the book launch event slated later on Monday show copies of books which have a picture of Siddaramaiah wearing an attire resembling Tipu Sultan and holding a sword, on its cover.
