CM says Dasara is a festival for all, praises Banu Mushtaq for inaugurating celebrations despite objections over her past statements
MYSURU — Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday strongly defended his government’s decision to invite International Booker Prize winner writer Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara, and said majority people of the state have accepted it, and it has brought respect for the state.
He said Dasara is not a festival of any one religion or caste, it is a festival of all. It is “Nada Habba” (state festival), the festival of the people.
The famous 11-day Dasara celebrations commenced in this city of palaces on Monday amid religious and traditional fervour, with Mushtaq inaugurating it, PTI reported.
The inauguration took place amid controversy, with objections from some sections against the government’s decision to invite Mushtaq.
“Banu Mushtaq may be a Muslim woman by birth, but she is a human being first. Humans should love and respect each other and there should be no hate based on one’s caste and religion, as it is not the characteristic of humanity,” Siddaramaiah said.
Addressing the gathering after the inauguration of Mysuru Dasara, he said, “If we accept humanity, we should accept people belonging to any caste, religion or class –participating in the celebration of Nada Habba. Majority of the people of this state have accepted Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara.”
“Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara this year is a right decision and it is something that has brought respect for Karnataka. So I congratulate Mushtaq on behalf of the people and the government,” he added.
Pointing out that the High Court and Supreme Court have taught proper lessons to those who approached them opposing the government’s invitation to Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara, the CM said, courts have asked them to read the preamble of the Constitution.
“Everyone should understand that our Constitution is secular. We are a society where there is unity in diversity, irrespective of our religion and castes, we are all Indians. Those who are opposed to the Constitution try to distort it, such people are selfish,” he said.
Appreciating Mushtaq’s inaugural address, Siddaramaiah said, even he cannot speak like her.
“She has spoken aptly and meaningfully in the given situation, being a poet, writer and the inaugurator. I hope everyone has understood her message. Probably she has opened the eyes of even those who opposed her, even those who opposed her are happy internally,” he said, as he lauded her work being part of a farmer organisation, as an activist, Kannada writer and poet.
The controversy opposing the government’s decision to invite her, stems from allegations that Mushtaq has made statements in the past that are perceived by some as “anti-Hindu” and “anti Kannada”.
Critics argue that her selection for the festival, which traditionally begins with Vedic rituals and floral offerings to Goddess Chamundeshwari, disrespects religious sentiments and long-standing traditions associated with the event.
Objections have been raised by BJP leaders and others to the state government’s decision to invite Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festivities, following an old video that went viral, in which she has reportedly expressed reservations about worshipping the Kannada language as “Goddess Bhuvaneshwari”, stating that it was exclusionary to people like her (minorities).
Several BJP leaders had asked Mushtaq to clarify her reverence towards Goddess Chamundeshwari before consenting to inaugurate the Dasara. However, Mushtaq, on her part, has said that her statement has been distorted by making selective parts of her old speech go viral on social media.
Noting that Dasara celebration was started by kings of the Vijayanagara empire and after its collapse, Mysuru kings under Raja Wadiyar I started celebrating it in 1610 started, the CM said, Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan too celebrated Dasara during their rule over Mysuru in Srirangapatna.
He said, “People should know the history. By distorting history, doing things for the sake of selfishness and politics is an unpardonable offence. Whoever it is, no one should do politics in such matters. If you want to do politics, do it during the election. Unnecessarily, politics should not be done out of hate or to appease someone.”
The Dasara festival this year will be an eleven-day grand event. There have been good rains this year, dams are filled and people of the state are happy, Siddaramaiah said.
He also listed out the success of his government’s five guarantee schemes.
“The Karnataka government believes in secularism and equal rights and opportunities for all,” he added.
