Dasara row: BJP’s Pratap Simha moves Karnataka HC; marches announced for and against invite to Banu Mushtaq
The Hindu Jagarana Vedike and the Dalit Mahasabha have announced September 9 marches to Chamundi Hill, where Banu Mushtaq is slated to inaugurate the state-sponsored Dasara festivities later this month.
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Simha stated that members of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru were opposed to the government decision, and claimed that Mushtaq had also criticised the Kannada language. (Credit: X/@mepratap)The controversy over the selection of Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the historic Mysuru Dasara celebrations continues to rage, with BJP leader Pratap Simha approaching the Karnataka High Court for directions to revoke the government decision and two organisations announcing marches—one in support of and the other against the author opening the state-sponsored celebrations in Mysuru.
In his petition, Simha has said that the inaugural event of Dasara involves offering floral tributes to the idol of the goddess Chamundeshwari and the recital of the Vedas. He has also stated that members of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru were opposed to the government decision, and claimed that Mushtaq had also criticised the Kannada language.
After the controversy erupted, the former MP accused Mushtaq of being “anti-Hindu” and contended that the author was not fit to open the event.
Earlier this year, Mushtaq became the first author writing in Kannada to win the Booker Prize for Heart Lamp, the translation of a selection of her short stories.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters that the court would take a decision. “In the past, Nisar Ahmed inaugurated the festival. He was (the Mysore-Kodagu) MP then. Why didn’t he go to court then?” he asked. The chief minister said the issue was being politicised and that the government “will fight it out politically”.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that Simha was ignored by his own party. “He needs to be relevant in politics. So he is doing such things. The court will hear the case and make a decision,” he said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Hindu Jagarana Vedike and the Dalit Mahasabha have announced September 9 marches to Chamundi Hill, where the inauguration will take place.
Apart from the Hindu Jagarana Vedike, the BJP has also opposed the decision to have Mushtaq inaugurate the Dasara festivities, with Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka announcing that the party would protest if the state government went ahead with its decision.
The Dalit Mahasabha has announced the march saying the issue was being used politically and to stir communal tensions in Mysuru.
The Congress Government has maintained that it sponsors the Dasara festivities in Mysuru and has discretionary powers to select any personality from the field of arts and literature to inaugurate the event.
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