BJP questions Congress govt’s choice of Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara festivities

BENGALURU: A day after expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected to Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq being named as chief guest to inaugurated the Dasara festivities, several BJP leaders have also questioned the decision of the Congress government.

They dug out an old speech of the writer where she objects to deifying of Kannada Mate and questioned the government’s rationale behind choosing Bhanu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festival.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje posted on X, “The sacred festival of Chamundeshwari Devi during Mysuru Dasara is based on devotion and tradition, not merely a cultural display. Every ritual is conducted in accordance with the scriptures, grounded in religion.

ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾದ ಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿ ದೇವಿಯ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಉತ್ಸವವು ಭಕ್ತಿಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ಅವಲಂಬಿತವಾಗಿದೆಯೇ ಹೊರತು, ಇದು ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನವಲ್ಲ. ಧರ್ಮದ ಆಧಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಆಚರಣೆಯನ್ನೂ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಅನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಆದರೂ, ಇಂಡಿ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ಪದೇ ಪದೇ ಹಿಂದೂಗಳ ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅವಮಾನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಮೊದಲು… pic.twitter.com/n2xTferb2m

— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) August 25, 2025

“Yet, the INDI alliance repeatedly insults the sentiments of Hindus. First, they invited M.K. Stalin to Sabarimala, and now they have invited Banu Mushtaq, who publicly disrespected Kannadambe Bhuvaneshwari Devi, for the Dasara inauguration. Inviting those who do not believe in our Devi to offer the first worship to the Devi is an insult to the Devi and to every devotee.

“Mysuru Dasara is not just a festival; it is the worship of Mother Chamundeshwari and a celebration of Hindu faith. But the Karnataka government has crossed the limits of appeasement. For the Dasara inauguration, they have invited the same Banu Mushtaq who insulted Bhuvaneshwari and the Kannada flag”.

“One who does not even believe in Mother Chamundeshwari, will she worship her? This is a direct insult to the Mother, to our faith, and to every Hindu. Dasara is a festival of our faith and religion; I will not allow it to become a platform for politics and appeasement at any cost. Hindu society will never tolerate such disrespect”.

“Dasara is a festival of Hindu religion and devotion. It is not possible to use the Dasara festival as a platform for political appeasement. Hindus will not tolerate such repeated attacks on our traditions”, she wrote.

“Banu Mushtaq should declare her faith in Goddess Chamundeshwari.”

– BJP MP Tejasvi Surya over Govt inviting the booker prize author to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara festival pic.twitter.com/FcR88n7L1d

— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) August 25, 2025

Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP and scion the Mysore royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar says, “As you all know, the Karnataka Govt has invited Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festival. She is a renowned author and has won the Booker International Prize. She has many accolades to her name…We have expressed our many questions regarding whether she has the sentiment that we all share when it comes to Dasara, primarily being that this is dharmic festival. It has a dharmic background.

#WATCH | Mysuru, Karnataka: BJP MP and erstwhile King from the Mysore royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar says, “As you all know, the Karnataka Govt has invited Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festival. She is a renowned author and has won the Booker… pic.twitter.com/fBBTQpVDZV

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025

“The 10-day festivities are in honour of Goddess Chamundeshwari…As long as that is cleared, we should have no issue with it because this festival, even though the State does it from the viewpoint of the Constitution, still starts with the ‘pushparchana’ or offering of flowers to Goddess Chamundeshwari. So, all of these sentiments have to be done religiously and with the same reverence that any normal follower would do. So, as long as her sentiments are in line with this, we have no issue on the matter”, he said.

Opposition leader R Ashoka said, “Dasara is a festival of Hindus. In Islam, idol worship is forbidden. If Banu Mushtaq does this, her religion will be opposed…Why should those who oppose Hindus, worship Chamundeshwari? Siddaramaiah government is tarnishing our religion. They are trying to tarnish it in a way. Siddaramaiah has a Tipu mentality”.

ಕನ್ನಡವನ್ನು ಭುವನೇಶ್ವರಿಯಾಗಿ ಒಪ್ಪದ ಈಕೆ, ತಾಯಿ ಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿಯನ್ನು ನಾಡದೇವತೆಯಾಗಿ ಒಪ್ಪಿಕೊಂಡು ಪುಷ್ಪಾರ್ಚನೆ ಮಾಡಿಯಾರೆ ಬೂಕರ್ ಭಾನು?

——‐————————–
ಜನ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನ – ೨೦೨೩ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾನು ಮುಸ್ತಾಕ್ ರವರು ಮಾಡಿದ ಭಾಷಣ. https://t.co/CBrf96yvHl pic.twitter.com/VPrRD9KHQJ

— Prathap Simha (@mepratap) August 25, 2025

Former MP Prathap Simha posted on X, “She, who does not accept Kannada as the goddess of the world, accepts mother Chamundeshwari as the village deity and performs flower worship? Speech by Banu Mustak in the Jan Sahitya Sammelana – 2023.

On the BJP questioning Booker winner Banu Mishtaq to inaugurate Mysore Dasara festival, Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara says, “It is not right to oppose this. This is not a religious issue. Dasara is a national festival”.