Yadgir (Karnataka): Tension gripped Yadgir city of the state after a row broke out over naming of a junction after 18th century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan or controversial Hindutva icon Savarkar.
Though the authorities swung into action and brought the situation under control, the issue has taken a communal turn threatening the peace, law and order situation.
Yadgir Municipality is run by BJP. Maintaining that Tippu circle near Hattikuni Cross is illegal, the Hindus are demanding rechristening it as "Veer Savarkar".
On the other hand, fans of Tipu Sultan, local Hindus and Muslims both, have declared that they won't allow this to happen at any cost.
The authorities have arrested Parashurama Shegurkar, State President of Shivaji Sena and his followers.
North Karnataka Tipu Sultan Samyukta Rang President Abdul Kareem has also been booked by the police and sources say that he is absconding.
Earlier, it was called Maulana Abdul Kalam Circle. Tipu fans maintain that the city municipality has given permission to name the circle after Tipu Sultan in 2010.
However, Hindutva extremists claim that the circle is named after Tipu Sultan illegally without permission from the Municipality. The government has not accepted the change of the name.
The Hindutva extremists are demanding renaming of the circle after Savarkar. They even made an attempt to remove the name of the circle and police had foiled the bid. The authorities had also clamped prohibitory orders.
Suresh Ambigara, President of Municipality maintained that naming the circle after Tippu Sultan is illegal. The proposal has been sent to the government to name it after Savarkar.
"We will abide by the government order in this regard," he said.
As elections are nearing, the ruling BJP government is likely to accept the proposal of naming the circle after Savarkar. This is going to be an issue, sources explain.
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