———S. A. Hemanth————
Bengaluru, March 19: The JDS is caught in a dilemma whether to support and own up Uri Gowda and Dodda Nanje Gowda or oppose them.
The reason for dilemma is the Muslim votes which the JDS is eyeing in the forth coming elections.
BJP has upped the ante by repeating that Tipu Sultan was killed by Uri Gowda and Dodda Nanje Gowda after the farmers uprising against collection of taxes.
If the JDS accepts, owns up and support Uri Gowda and Dodda Nanje Gowda, then it will invite the wrath of the Muslim community.
For, it is widely believed that Tipu Sultan was a brave and courageous king who fought against the British who killed him. Historians have maintained that Tipu Sultan died of gun shots.
Obviously, Uri Gowda and Dodda Nanje Gowda did not possess firearms.
The fear of losing the Muslim votes is what has made the JDS not to accept this theory of Tipu Sultan having been killed by two Gowdas.
On the other hand, if the JDS disowns and oppose this Uri Gowda and Dodda Nanje Gowda theory, then the Vokkaliga-dominated JDS will invite the wrath of the Vokkaliga community.
Perhaps this is the reason why JDS President H. D. Kumaraswamy has maintained a stance that is important to take care of the interests of the present Gowdas instead of two Gowdas who lived 200 years ago.
But what has caused acute embarrassment to the JDS and Kumaraswamy is the fact that in 2006 when he was chief minister a book brought out by the Department of Education had eulogized Uri Gowda and Dodda Nanje Gowda for their brave act of killing Tipu Sultan.
It is a matter of curiosity as to how the JDS will wriggle out of this embarrassing situation.
EOM
