Mon Aug 25 18:11:12 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Karnataka’s BJP is facing internal conflict over the selection of Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq, a Muslim woman, to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara festival. While the BJP generally opposes the decision, citing the festival’s religious significance, Mysuru BJP MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Vadiyar acknowledges Mushtaq’s social contributions but also suggests inviting someone who shares the festival’s “religious sentiment.” He emphasizes the importance of considering public sentiment and the festival’s traditional roots, while also acknowledging its secular nature as a state-sponsored event. The Home Minister defends the invitation as inclusive and cautions against introducing religious divisions into the state festival.
**News Article:**
**Mysuru Dasara Invitation Sparks Controversy: BJP Divided Over Muslim Author’s Role**
**Mysuru, Karnataka** – The upcoming Mysuru Dasara festival is at the center of a political storm after the state BJP expressed opposition to the selection of Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq, a Muslim woman, to inaugurate the festivities. Traditionally, the festival begins with rituals at the Chamundi Hill temple.
The move has drawn criticism from within the BJP, who argue that the Dasara festival is primarily a religious event. However, Mysuru BJP MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Vadiyar, scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, has offered a more nuanced perspective.
While acknowledging Mushtaq’s significant contributions to social causes, particularly her work in advocating for Muslim women’s rights, Vadiyar suggested that ideally, the inaugurator should share the festival’s religious sentiment. “This is a religious festival first and foremost, and you would generally want people who are of the same religious sentiment,” he stated in an interview.
Despite his reservations, Vadiyar emphasized that the state-sponsored Dasara festival operates under a secular framework and should not be viewed solely through a religious lens. He also cautioned against disregarding the sentiments of the local population, given the festival’s deep-rooted traditions.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has defended the invitation, emphasizing that the Dasara festival is a state event and should be inclusive of all communities. He urged against introducing religious divisions into the celebrations, stating, “This is a state festival, and we will invite everyone.”
The controversy echoes similar situations in the past, with the BJP previously inviting individuals who did not necessarily adhere to traditional Indian religious practices. As the festival approaches, the state government faces the challenge of balancing inclusivity with respect for the sentiments of its citizens.
Vadiyar urged the state to “not play with the sentiments of the people of this state especially when it comes to the dharmic rights that we have.” The situation remains a point of contention within the state’s political landscape, highlighting the complex interplay of religion, tradition, and secular governance.
First Piper 