Azam Khan urges PM Modi to bring back 'Martyr' Tipu Sultan's ring

Amid row over Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary, Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Minister Azam Khan on Thursday described the 18th century Mysore ruler as a 'martyr who fought the British' and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back the late king's ring from London.

Hinting that Tipu Sultan was a secular ruler, Khan further said that Tipu's ring had Lord Ram's name written on it.

"Tipu Sultan was a martyr, he fought against the British for the nation. He killed the General who had attacked him just before dying. After his death, the ring that the he was wearing was removed, and the ring had 'Ram' was written on it. That ring is in a museum in London," Khan told ANI here today.

"Now that Prime Minsiter Modi is in London, we expect him to bring back the ring of Tipu Sultan and show it to RSS and BJP members." he added.

The right wing groups such as VHP and Bajrang Dal are protesting against the celebration of birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan in Karnataka. These extremist groups are accusing Tipu Sultan, who fought against colonial rulers, as being communal.

On Wednesday, well known playwright Girish Karnad received a death threat for demanding that Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport to be renamed after Tipu Sultan.

Tipu Sultan, a ruler who took on the British, is not regarded highly by the people of Kodagu, who rebelled against the

Mysore ruler.