Mysuru Dasara inauguration row: BJP says Banu Mushtaq's 'faith uncertain'; minister hits back

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leaders have objected to the Karnataka government’s decision to invite Booker Prize-winning author and activist Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara celebrations. Karnataka minister G Parameshwara, however, countered the criticism, saying, "This is not a religious issue."Former minister and BJP MLC CT Ravi argued that it was inappropriate for someone "whose faith is uncertain" to lead a religious ceremony.Former Mysuru MP Pratap Simha said while he respects Mushtaq’s achievements, she should preside over literary events, not Dasara. "It is acceptable when she chairs the Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana but not Dasara, a Hindu religious event which begins with pooja to Goddess Chamundeshwari.

Does she have faith in Chamundeshwari Devi? Is she following our traditions?" he asked.

Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal echoed similar views on X. "I personally hold respect for Banu Mushtaq madam as a writer and activist. However, her inaugurating Dasara by offering flowers and lighting the lamp to Goddess Chamundeshwari seems to be in conflict with her own religious beliefs," he said. Yatnal added that Mushtaq should clarify whether she continues to follow Islam or believes in a broader path that aligns with Hindu traditions, stressing that such clarity was necessary before she performed the inaugural rituals.

"She may certainly inaugurate cultural or literary events within Dasara festivities, but the religious inauguration itself should be refrained from," Yatnal said, using the hashtag #KarnatakaDasara2025.In another post on X, written in Kannada, he said, "It is not right for the Dasara inauguration to be done by those from other religions who do not believe in Hindu dharma and practices, and who consider flower worship and idol worship to be 'haram'."However, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya struck a slightly different note, saying, "I don’t have an objection to anybody. But Mysuru Dasara is an important religious festival of Karnataka, and we only expect that whoever inaugurates it and offers the first prayers should make their belief in Goddess Chamundeshwari public and clear."

Congress-ruled Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara hit back at BJP's objections to Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Mysuru Dasara, saying, "It is not right to oppose this. This is not a religious issue. Dasara is a national festival."Chief minister Siddaramaiah had recently announced Mushtaq’s name to inaugurate the Nada Habba (state festival) Dasara celebrations, which traditionally begin with rituals at the Chamundi Hill temple.