BJP leaders oppose invitation to writer Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Karnataka’s Mysuru Dasara

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have opposed the Karnataka government’s decision to invite writer and activist Banu Mushtaq, winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize, to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.

Mysuru Dasara is a 10-day state festival that begins with the Hindu festival of Navratri and ends on Vijayadashami, or Dussehra. This year, the festivities start on September 22 and conclude on October 2.

BJP leader and Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna said that the Siddaramaiah government had chosen a woman from a community that does not believe in Hinduism, PTI reported on Monday.

Suvarna alleged that by doing so, the Congress was “playing with the emotions of Hindus”.

Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said on social media that inaugurating Dussehra by offering flowers and lighting a lamp to deity Chamundeshwari would be in conflict with Mushtaq’s religious beliefs.

“Madam needs to clarify whether she continues to follow Islam, which emphasises belief in only one God and one holy book,” said Yatnal, who was expelled from the BJP in March.

He added that without clarity on this matter, it would be inappropriate for her to inaugurate the festival.

“She may certainly inaugurate cultural or literary events within Dussehra festivities, but the religious inauguration of Dussehra itself should be refrained from,” Yatnal said.

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