Former BJP MP Questions Rationale Behind Booker Winner Inaugurating Mysuru Dasara

Benfaluru:Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha questioned the decision of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to choose Booker Prize-2025 winner Banu Musthaq to open Mysuru Dasara festivities and he objected Banu Mushtaq opening the Dasara festivities as she belongs to another “faith” (a Muslim.) Pratap Simha represented Mysuru-Kodagu parliamentary seat from 2019-2024.

It may be recalled here Nisar Ahmed, a noted Kannada writer, opened Mysore Dasara festivities in 2017. While asking the State Government to reconsider its decision to open Dasara festivities by Banu Musthaq, he told reporters in Mysuru “How appropriate is it chose someone from another religion to inaugurate Mysore Dasara festivities’ and termed “Dasara festivities is about faith in Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru.”

Simha, however, admired Banu Musthaq’s contribution to the literary field but raised objections to her inaugurating the festivities citing that Dasara is deeply a Hindu religious festivities.

He pointed out previous instances of dignitaries particularly litterateurs- Baraguru Ramachandrappa and Girish Karnad inaugurating Dasara festivities against cultural ethos. Baraguru Ramachandrappa inaugurated Dasara festivities without lighting the lamp nor visited Chamundeshwari Temple, atop Chamundi Hill in Mysuru, said Simha and stated Girish Karnad was well-known for his anti-Hindu stance.

However, Janata Dal Secular MLA and former minister H.D. Revanna, at a press conference in Hassan stated “It is not right to differentiate between Hindu-Muslim” and made it clear “Let anyone oppose Banu Musthaq but (we should bear in mind) we are all Indians.” Revanna said “I do not have (discriminatory) attitude” and stated he is happy that a woman hailing from Hassan has been chosen to open Mysore Dasara festivities.

Meanwhile, Banu Mushtaq said she would not like to comment on objections to her opening Dasara festivities.