Tue Sep 09 20:07:06 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the article and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Congress government in Karnataka, India, has invited International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq, a Muslim woman, to inaugurate the upcoming Mysuru Dasara festival, a major state event. This decision has sparked controversy, with the BJP and its affiliates protesting, claiming it undermines the festival’s Hindu roots and accusing the government of “appeasement politics.” Critics are highlighting past statements by Mushtaq regarding the use of Hindu iconography in defining Kannada language and identity. While she has received support and emphasizes the festival’s shared cultural significance, the opposition continues to pressure her and the government. This event occurs amid other politically charged religious issues in the state, intensifying the divide between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

**News Article:**

**Controversy Erupts Over Muslim Author’s Invitation to Inaugurate Mysuru Dasara Festival**

**Bengaluru, September 10, 2025** – A political storm is brewing in Karnataka after the Congress government extended an invitation to internationally acclaimed author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the annual Mysuru Dasara festival on September 22nd. The decision to invite Mushtaq, a Muslim woman and winner of the International Booker Prize, has drawn fierce criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and affiliated groups, who accuse the government of prioritizing “appeasement politics” over the Hindu traditions associated with the festival.

Dasara, a ten-day festival rooted in Hindu tradition, has evolved into a significant cultural event for the state, attracting tourists and boosting the local economy. While proponents see it as a celebration of Karnataka’s identity, the BJP insists on emphasizing its religious character.

“Inviting someone who has questioned the use of Hindu iconography to represent our language is a direct insult to our traditions,” stated a BJP spokesperson. The party has demanded that Mushtaq “prove” her worthiness of the honor, with some members even suggesting she should publicly display Hindu symbols.

Mushtaq, reacting to the controversy with restraint, has expressed her honor at the invitation and reaffirmed her respect for the festival as an integral part of Karnataka’s shared culture. She has emphasized that the festival belongs to all, regardless of religious background.

The controversy has been further fueled by resurfaced clips of a 2023 speech where Mushtaq critiqued the depiction of the Kannada language as a goddess, arguing it can be exclusionary. While academics and activists have debated the use of religious imagery in national and linguistic identity for years, the BJP has seized upon this as evidence of Mushtaq’s alleged anti-Hindu sentiments.

While Mushtaq is not the first Muslim to inaugurate Dasara (the late writer K.S. Nisar Ahmed performed the honors in 2017), the intensity of the backlash this year suggests a deeper political agenda. Observers note that the opposition is attempting to capitalize on the issue to portray the Congress government as anti-Hindu, particularly in the context of an ongoing investigation into alleged killings in the Dharmasthala pilgrim center and recent communal disturbances in Maddur town.

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru, has weighed in, distinguishing between the secular state-sponsored Dasara celebrations and the religious traditions observed by her family, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

Despite the opposition’s pressure, the Congress government has stood its ground on the choice of Mushtaq to inaugurate the festival, setting the stage for a potentially tense and politically charged Dasara celebration.

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