An official said that 64 workers from both BJP and Bajrang Dal were arrested from two different spots around Malad areas for having a gathering against the COVID protocols.

BJP & Bajrang Dal supporters protest in Mumbai’s Malad. (Pic. ANI)

Seema Mahurkar | HENB | Mumbai | January 26, 2022:: Mumbai police on Wednesday took into custody BJP and Bajrang Dal workers who were protesting against the naming of a sports complex in Mumbai’s Malad after controversial 18th Century Mysore Ruler Tipu Sultan.

“We have arrested 64 workers from both BJP and Bajrang Dal from two different spots for having a gathering against the COVID protocols,” said a senior police official who also said that legal action will be taken against all accused.

Reacting to the situation, Maharashtra minister Aslam Shaikh alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sent its goons to defame the country as there was no conflict on the name of Tipu Sultan in the last 70 years.

“There was no conflict on the name of Tipu Sultan in last 70 years. Today, BJP has sent its goons to defame the country and not let the country develop by creating ruckus over naming projects. We don’t need to get into controversy over nomenclatures,” he told media persons.

Earlier on Tuesday, BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar also pledged to oppose the naming of the sports complex in Mumbai’s Malad after ‘Communal’ Tipu Sultan and assured to rename the ground on the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj if they come to power in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The inauguration of the park in the name of 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan on the Republic day by Congress leader and guardian minister of Mumbai Aslam Shaikh in his constituency has sparked controversy.

Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Shriraj Nair said that the naming of the complex after ‘anti-Hindu’ Tipu Sultan is being done with an intention to disrupt peace in the city.

Though a ‘secular’ interpretation of history described Tipu Sultan as a ‘National Hero’ for his stand against British rulers, new historical research reveled that Tipu was a ‘communal’ and ‘anti-Hindu’+ ruler who destroyed many Hindu temples and caused Hindu mass killing in his time.

Read also: Tipu – A fanatic anti-Hindu Islamic ruler of 18th Century in Mysore.

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__Inputs from ANI.