No objection to Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara festival if she respects deity, says Yaduveer

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP, has said he has no objection to Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq inaugurating the Dasara festival if she respects the deity of Chamundeshwari.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Monday, Mr. Yaduveer, who is also the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru, said he would welcome the government’s decision to select Ms. Mushtaq for inaugurating the Dasara festival if she has respect for Goddess Chamundeshwari and would not offend the religious feelings of the people.

He also referred to Ms. Mushtaq’s reported statement that she respects the deity and had participated in the festival when she was a child during the time of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar

Mr. Yaduveer denied that his statement was in contrast to the other BJP leaders’ position on the issue and said there were questions about her faith in the deity, but the writer has clarified that she respects the deity.

Even though the State government celebrates Dasara festival in a secular manner under the Constitution, the festival has a religious background, culture, and tradition, he said.

Mr. Yaduveer said the Congress government had earlier invited people who had no respect for religious rituals and Indian culture and cited the names of Girish Karnad and K.S. Nisar Ahmed. As the Dasara festival is inaugurated by offering floral tributes to the deity of Chamundeshwari, the government should bear in mind that the invited guests respect the religious feelings of the people.

To a question, Mr. Yaduveer pointed out that the government should have also invited Deepa Bhasthi, the translator of Ms. Musthaq’s Booker Prize winning work Heart Lamp, to do the honours. Ms. Bhasthi hails from Kodagu district, he said, and added that achievers from Kodagu should also get representation in the Dasara festival.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra asked Ms. Mushtaq to accept Sanatan culture and rituals, and then inaugurate the festival.

“Sanatan Dharma includes idol worship and offering puja to the deity. Do you agree with that? If you agree, then make your stand public and then inaugurate the festivities,” he said.

Shobha demands withdrawal of govt. decision

However, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje urged the government to withdraw its decision to invite Ms. Mushtaq, who does not believe in idol worship, to inaugurate the festivities. She termed the government’s action as anti-Hindu, while arguing that the Dasara inaugural ceremony would involve offering puja.