BJP leaders oppose installing of Tipu Sultan statue, arrested

Kadapa June 18 (UNI) The police on Friday arrested BJP leaders, including state general secretary Vishnuvardhan Reddy, for registering their protest against the installing of Tipu Sultan statue in Proddatur town in the district.
Some Muslim leaders proposed to install the statue of Tipu Sultan and laid foundation stone for the purpose in Proddatur town. However, the BJP leaders vehemently opposed the installing of Tipu Sultan statue in the town.
BJP leaders including State general Secretary Vishnuvardhan Reddy, district president Yella Reddy, former district president Ankal Reddy and Kishan Morcha president Sesi Bhushan Reddy along activists went to the place to register their protest against the installing Tipu Sultan statue.
The BJP leaders warned that if the Tipu Sultan statue was installed they would demolish it. The BJP leaders alleged that the ruling party MLA of Proddaturu was helping to the local Muslim leaders to install the statue. The police arrested the BJP leaders and whisked them away to the police station.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Somu Veerraju strongly objected to the installation of Tipu Sultan statue. In a statement here on Friday, he alleged that in order to appease people of a particular community, the statue of a traitor was being installed. Tipu Sultan caused the deaths of lakhs of Hindus and installing his statue was objectionable as it would hurt the sentiments of Hindus, the BJP leader said.
Mr.Veerraju demanded Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to make it clear his stand on the issue. The BJP leader warned of continuing agitation until the efforts to install Tipu Sultan statue were withdrawn.