Pramoda Devi Wadiyar calls statement regarding ownership of Chamundi hill as 'insensitive'
Shivakumar on Tuesday said Chamundi Hill and Goddess Chamundeshwari belonged to every religion, and it was not the property of Hindus alone, a statement that drew sharp reaction from the opposition BJP
BENGALURU: The row over selection of Booker Prize winner-2025 Banu Musthtaq, a Muslim, to open Mysore Dasara festivities refuses to die down after a statement by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that Chamundi temple, a popular tourist destination and abode of presiding deity Goddess Chamundeshwari, does not alone belong to Hindus, drew criticism from the erstwhile Mysore royal family.
While interacting with media persons, a couple of days back in Bengaluru, Shivakumar commenting on objections by BJP leaders to Banu Musthaq opening Dasara festivities, a decision of the ruling Congress government, stated Chamundi temple is visited by people of all communities and the doors of the temple are open for all.
A member of erstwhile Mysore royal family Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, in a statement, expressed displeasure over conflicting opinions on the choice of dignitary invited to inaugurate Mysore Dasara (celebrated as Janata Dasara) and in an oblique reference to the statement by D.K. Shivakumar, Paramoda Devi stated “While defending the decision (on choice of dignitary), insensitive statements (D.K. Sivakumar) such that Chamundeshwari temple does not belong to Hindus was both unnecessary and avoidable.”
Pramoda Devi Wadiyar stated she was dismayed over politics finding its way around the sacred Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hills.
Scion of erstwhile Mysore royal family and Member of Parliament representing Mysuru-Kodagu seat Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar criticized D.K. Shivakumar over his statement and stated “You are indulging in appeasement politics. We are ready to fight over the onslaught on our religion.”
In response to the criticism over his statement on Chamundi temple, D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday stated “Some are always at fault finding right over my statements from the floor of the Assembly to Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and Yaduveer Wadiyar. It is better to shut my mouth.”
Earlier, he questioned “Why there is no signboard to state that only Hindus are allowed to enter Ram temple at Ayodhya?” and his other question to BJP leaders was “Why didn’t BJP when in power did not abolish Haj Committee and department of minority welfare?”
Shivakumar termed the criticism/objections by BJP leaders on Banu Musthaq opening Dasara festivities as “politically motivated” and stated “Ours is a secular nation and the Constitution has provided equal opportunities for all.”