BENGALURU — Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, expressing his views on former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pratap Simha’s move to approach the High Court seeking stay on the decision of the state government to get historical Dussehra festival inaugurated by Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq, said that the BJP’s opposition for Dussehra inauguration by the writer-activist is politically motivated.
He said this on Saturday while speaking to reporters after offering ‘Gangapooja’ and ‘Bagina’ to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Reservoir at Almatti, organised by the Water Resources Department and the Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Limited.
When asked on the BJP’s objections to the decision to have writer Banu Mushtaq inaugurate the state’s Nada Habba (state festival) Dussehra, CM Siddaramaiah said: “Let the court decide on Pratap Simha’s petition. Earlier, no one objected when writer Nissar Ahmed inaugurated the festival. Why did the BJP not oppose Tipu Sultan or Mirza Ismail processions? BJP’s objection to Banu Mushtaq is politically motivated, and the government will respond politically.”
He further stated: “There is no evidence that Banu Mushtaq spoke against Goddess Kannadaambe. She won the Booker Prize for the English translation of her Kannada work ‘Hrudaya Deepa’. That is why both Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Basti have been honoured by the state. Since Banu Mushtaq is a Kannada writer, she has been invited to inaugurate Dussehra.”
On the much-debated subject of EVM versus ballot papers, CM Siddaramaiah said, “To avoid confusion and disputes over EVMs, the state will recommend to the Election Commission to conduct local body elections using ballot papers. Several countries across the world have moved away from EVMs and reverted to ballot papers.”
Notably, adding to the ongoing Dussehra row in Karnataka, former BJP MP Pratap Simha on Saturday filed a petition in the High Court seeking a stay on the Congress-led government’s decision to invite Booker awardee Banu Mushtaq inaugurate the historic festival. –IANS
