Karnataka Congress MLA Suggests To Rename Mysuru Airport After Tipu Sultan, Sparks Row

Abbayya, MLA from Hubballi-Dharwad (East), proposed the modification during a discussion regarding the state administration writing to the Centre to alter airport names.

Portrait of Tipu Sultan.

The proposal by Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya to rename the Mysuru airport after Tipu Sultan, a Muslim king, has sparked outrage among Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly, news agency ANI reported. Abbayya, MLA from Hubballi-Dharwad (East), proposed the modification during a discussion regarding the state administration writing to the Centre to alter airport names. "I propose the renaming of Mysuru airport to Tipu Sultan airport," he was quoted by ANI in its report. 

This enraged BJP MLAs, who rose up to protest and protested to the judgement, sparking violent debate between both sides. However, the Karnataka Assembly overwhelmingly passed a motion on Thursday urging that four airports be named after famous people.

The Hubballi airport would be named after Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna, Belagavi airport after Kittur Rani Chennamma, Shivamogga airport after Rashtrakavi Dr KV Puttappa (Kuvempu), and Vjiayapura airport after Sri Jagadjyoti Basaveshwara, according to the resolution.

The new airport names would be suggested to the union government for approval, according to Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked at a ceremony on October 13 that Kittur Rani Channamma and Tipu Sultan are role models for fighting for self-respect.

"Kittur Rani Channamma and Tipu Sultan are inspirations to fight for self-respect. Kittur Channamma was a fierce queen who challenged the huge British army with her small army. Kittur Utsava and Jayantsova were started during my first term as Chief Minister, to introduce her courage and ideals to the youth and today's generation," the Chief Minister was quoted by ANI in its report. 

Tipu Sultan has been a divisive figure in Karnataka; while he was Chief Minister in 2016, Siddarmiah declared Tipu Sultan's birthday "Tipu Jayanti" on November 10.

After the BJP took control in the state in 2019, this judgement was reversed.