Could have considered ‘other options’: JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Mysore Dasara inauguration by Banu Mushtaq

BENGALURU: Janata Dal (Secular) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Thursday stated that “other options” could have been considered rather than inviting Booker prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the upcoming ‘Mysuru Dasara’ festival in 2025.

“We have no issues that one Muslim lady will be inaugurating the Dasara festival. One thing that recently took place regarding Thayi Bhuvaneshwari, who has expressed certain reservations…There are videos.. There are many other people who are great achievers. Perhaps you (the state government) could have considered other options as well. I think they could have chosen someone else…”Kumaraswarmy told reporters here.

Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer and women’s rights activist, scripted history by winning the International Booker Prize for the short story anthology Heart Lamp in 2025. It is the first Kannada book to win honours in London. Originally written in the Kannada language, the stories in Heart Lamp were translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi.

Earlier, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, who is a member of erstwhile Mysore royal family on Thursday released a statement related to the Chamundeshwari Temple and this year’s Dasara festival celebrations planned by Karnataka government.

In her statement, Wadiyar termed the Karnataka government’s planned celebration plans and recent politics over the issue as “deeply disturbing”.She further said that the dignitaries, who are invited to inaugurate the Naada festival (Janata Dasara) have led to a difference in opinion and mentioned that it is unecessary to justify that Chamundeshwari Devi temple doesn’t belong to Hindu religion.

“The Karnataka government’s proposed Dasara celebrations this year, especially the politics surrounding the holy Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills, are deeply disturbing. The selection of dignitaries invited to inaugurate this year’s Naada festival (Janata Dasara) has led to differences of opinion, and it is unnecessary to justify this by saying that the Chamundeshwari Temple does not belong to the Hindu religion,” the statement read.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | On Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara Festival, JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumarswamy says, “We have no issues that one Muslim lady will be inaugurating the Dasara festival. One thing that recently took place regarding Thayi Bhuvaneshwari, who has… pic.twitter.com/5jXzVa9Zor

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2025

She noted that the Chamudeshwari temple has always been worshipped as per the Hindu traditions, and people from other religions have always been allowed to enter the temple and perform prayers.

Meanwhile, Congress leader and Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara defended the state government’s decision to invite the writer and urged critics not to communalise the event.

Speaking on the controversy, Parameshwara told mediapersons, “It is not right to oppose this. This is not a religious issue. Dasara is a national festival.” He stressed that Dasara celebrations represented Karnataka’s heritage and culture, and not just a religious practice.

Karnataka Minister HK Patil also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying this is one of the good decisions that the government has taken, and the BJP should reconsider their thought process.

“Dasara is for all. It is a state festival. It is unfortunate that some people are trying to play politics…Nobody should do politics in this. This is one of the good decisions that the Government has taken. I feel that they (BJP) reconsider their thought process,” Patil told reporters. (ANI)