Mysuru, 30 Aug

Mysuru royal family matriarch Pramoda Devi Wadiyar condemned the politicisation of Chamundi Hills, hitting out at both the ruling Congress and Opposition parties alike. She said that the Royal family celebrates Dasara privately and it is for the government to decide who to invite as a chief guest.  

Speaking to reporters Mysuru on Saturday, she said that the Chamundi Hills are sacred to Hindus. “It’s a religious place. It’s a property of Mysuru Palace.” 

The Mysuru Royal family will continue to protect Chamundi Hills and its properties, she asserted. 

The Royal family has been engaged in a legal battle for 70 years with the Karnataka government over the family’s properties and the constitution of a Srikshetra Chamundeshwari Development Authority.

“Chamundi Hills and Chamundi Temple are not government’s property until the Court clarifies this,” she said.

She condemned all political parties for using the Chamundi Hills and Chamundeshwari Temple for politics.

“I appeal to all political party leaders to stop politicising the dasara celebrations,” she added.

The Karnataka government’s decision to invite International Booker Winning author Banu Mushtaq to felicitate this year’s Dasara festival has created a massive controversy, with the BJP and JD(S) claiming that the writer was anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada. 

While BJP MLC AH Vishwanath has strayed from the party line and welcomed the State government’s decision, he urged it to also honour Deepa Bhasthi, who won the prize with Mushtaq, in front of Mysuru Palace for their contribution to Kannada. 

He hit out at senior party member and Opposition leader R Ashoka for his communal statements.