Senior BJP leaders and an MLA expelled from the saffron get together have questioned the Karnataka authorities’s choice to have Booker Prize-winning creator and activist Banu Mushtaq inaugurate the world-famous Mysuru Dasara festivities this 12 months.
Former minister and BJP MLC C T Ravi stated it’s inappropriate for an individual whose religion is unsure to preside over a non secular ceremony.
Former Mysuru MP Pratap Simha stated that she will preside over a literary occasion however not Dasara.
“I personally respect Banu Mushtaq for her achievement. It’s acceptable when she chairs the Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana however not Dasara, a Hindu spiritual occasion which begins with providing pooja to Goddess Chamundeshwari. Does she think about Chamundeshwari Devi? Is she following our traditions?” Simha stated whereas chatting with reporters in Mysuru on Sunday.
MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who was expelled from BJP, who represents Vijayapura, stated in a publish on X, “I personally maintain respect for Banu Mushtaq madam as a author and activist. Nevertheless, her inaugurating Dasara by providing flowers and lighting the lamp to Goddess Chamundeshwari appears to be in battle along with her personal spiritual beliefs”.
He stated, “Madam must make clear whether or not she continues to observe Islam, which emphasizes perception in just one God and one holy ebook, or whether or not she now believes that each one paths finally result in the identical moksha.” He added that such readability was important earlier than she presides over the inaugural rituals.
“With out such readability, it doesn’t seem acceptable for Banu Mushtaq madam to inaugurate Dasara. She might actually inaugurate cultural or literary occasions inside Dasara festivities, however the spiritual inauguration of Dasara itself ought to be avoided,” Yatnal stated, utilizing the hashtag #KarnatakaDasara2025.
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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had just lately introduced that Banu Mushtaq would inaugurate the Nada Habba (state competition) Dasara celebrations in Mysuru, which historically start with rituals on the Chamundi Hill temple.