Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, mounted a sharp defence of Tipu Sultan's legacy, asserting that the 18th-century Mysore ruler's contributions to the state are indelible and that no political party can erase historical record. His remarks came in direct response to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) opposition to the official celebration of Tipu Sultan Jayanti and the removal of references to the Mysore ruler from Karnataka's school textbooks.

The Trigger: A Memorandum to the Chief Minister

The occasion was a memorandum submitted by the Tehrik-E-Khudadaad organisation to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, urging the state government to restore the official celebration of Tipu Sultan Jayanti and reinstate related lessons in school curricula. Responding to it, Kharge was unequivocal: "You cannot take away Tipu Sultan's contributions to the state. You cannot simply erase history, whether you like it or not." He added that the government would take a decision on the memorandum.

Key Historical Arguments Cited

Kharge pointed to concrete historical evidence in defence of Tipu Sultan's stature, noting that the ruler fought four Anglo-Mysore Wars and that the British were, by historical account, deeply wary of him. He cited Lalbagh in Bengaluru — originally developed by Hyder Ali and subsequently expanded by Tipu Sultan — and the fort at Nandi Hills as tangible contributions that cannot be wished away. He dismissed what he characterised as the BJP's distorted reading of history as 'WhatsApp University history'.

Notably, Kharge also recalled that the BJP had opposed Tipu Sultan Jayanti even when B.S. Yediyurappa was Chief Minister — despite Yediyurappa reportedly having praised the ruler in a book — underlining what he described as an inconsistent political stance.

RSS Participation in Freedom Struggle: Kharge's Allegations

Kharge escalated the attack by alleging that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had not participated in the freedom struggle — not in the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Quit India Movement, the Dandi March, the Non-Cooperation Movement, or any of the Round Table Conferences. He accused the BJP of using minority-related issues solely for electoral gain, alleging the party supports minorities when it needs votes but adopts a contrary position otherwise.

Cartridge Seizure Row and RSS Registration Demand

Kharge also addressed a separate controversy involving the seizure of 44,250 live cartridges during interstate raids in Bihar and Haryana. The cartridges were reportedly linked to a Pune ordnance factory, and Kharge questioned who was responsible for their alleged diversion. He claimed that two or three of the arrested individuals were associated with the RSS, and asked the organisation to explain the alleged possession. He reiterated his demand for formal RSS registration, arguing that the absence of official membership records allows the organisation to disown individuals when controversies arise.

Defence of Minority Training Programme

On the BJP's criticism of the state's national defence training programme for minorities, Kharge said such initiatives are routinely conducted by various departments for different communities. He noted that the Social Welfare Department organises programmes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, while the Minority Welfare Department does so for minorities. He stressed that the programme is aimed at preparing citizens for Army recruitment — not paramilitary forces or any private organisation. "If we do not train our own citizens, then who will?" he said.

The row over Tipu Sultan's place in Karnataka's official history and school curriculum remains a live political flashpoint, and the state government's formal decision on the Tehrik-E-Khudadaad memorandum is now awaited.