Mysuru, 31 Aug

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday defended the decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara, describing the event as a "secular" and "cultural" festival for all communities.

"Dasara is a cultural festival, it is ‘Nada Habba’ (state festival). There is nothing that it should be inaugurated only by people belonging to a certain religion. Nada Habba means a festival for everyone — Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains. This is the festival for everyone," he told reporters here.

"The high-power committee on Dasara had authorised me, and I decided that International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq should inaugurate it. Earlier too, poet KS Nissar Ahmed from the Muslim community was invited to inaugurate Dasara," he added.

Calling those opposing the decision "bigots who don’t know history," Siddaramaiah pointed out that the festival had been celebrated under Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and Diwan Mirza Ismail. "It is a secular festival, so I decided that the International Booker Prize winner should be invited. Some bigots are speaking against it; they need to learn history if they don’t know," he said.

The chief minister alleged that the BJP was politicising the issue.

Objections were raised after an old video of Mushtaq went viral, in which she had reportedly expressed reservations about worshipping Kannada as Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, calling it exclusionary to minorities.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra and Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar have demanded that Mushtaq clarify her reverence for Goddess Chamundeshwari before inaugurating the festivities.

Mushtaq has stated that her remarks were distorted, with selective portions of her speech being circulated on social media.

When her statement was interpreted as disrespecting Mother Kannada, Siddaramaiah said, "What does that have to do with inviting her to inaugurate Dasara? Will she write in Kannada without respecting Kannada Tayi? Her work ‘Hrudaya Hanate’ (Heart Lamp) is in which language? Is it possible to write in Kannada without love for the language? All her literary works are in Kannada."

Accusing the BJP of looking for "lame excuses" to oppose, he reiterated: "This is Nada Habba, I’m making it very clear. People from all communities participate in this festival. Inviting Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate it is appropriate."

On the BJP’s question as to why translator Deepa Bhasthi, who shared the International Booker Prize with Mushtaq, was not invited, the CM said: "Two people cannot inaugurate. Let’s look at it later, about honouring her in front of the Mysuru Palace. The government has already honoured both of them with Rs 10 lakh each."

This year’s Dasara celebrations will begin on 22 September and conclude with ‘Vijayadashami’ on 2 October.

Cong targeting Chamundi as part of 'toolkit': Ashoka 

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of targeting Hindu religious centres as part of a political “toolkit,” citing recent remarks about Chamundi Hill and the Chamundeshwari Temple.

After offering prayers at the hilltop temple, Ashoka condemned Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s statement that Chamundi Hill and Goddess Chamundeshwari do not belong exclusively to Hindus. “If it doesn't belong to Hindus, who does it belong to? Will you dare say the same outside a mosque?” he challenged.

Ashoka alleged a wider pattern of attacks on the Hindu faith, citing past controversies involving Sabarimala, Tirupati, and Dharmasthala. He warned that the BJP would launch a "Chamundeshwari Devasthana Chalo" protest if the temple is “disrespected,” asserting: “Targeting this temple will mark the beginning of Congress’s downfall.”

‘Booker for the naked truth? MLC flays Simha

MLC H Vishwanath ridiculed BJP MP Pratap Simha’s criticism of Banu Mushtaq’s Dasara invite, quipping, “Is this the naked truth or your Booker novel?” He said Simha speaks for attention, despite being sidelined by the BJP.

Vishwanath also slammed Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje for suggesting a ban on Chamundi Hill access, calling it undemocratic. “Dasara belongs to all,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, royal family member Pramoda Devi Wadiyar stated Chamundi Hill is sacred to Hindus and the Yadu dynasty, adding, “Political statements don’t change spiritual heritage.” Tensions continue over the intersection of religion and cultural tradition.