Dussehra invite to Banu Mushtaq: K’taka BJP workers detained ahead of ‘Mysuru Chalo’ protest
Tension Rises in Mysuru Over Banu Mushtaq’s Dussehra Inauguration Role
Mysuru turned tense on Tuesday as police detained several BJP leaders and Hindu activists during a planned "Mysuru Chalo" protest. The group wanted to challenge the Congress government’s decision to invite Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to kick off the famous Dussehra festivities. This controversy has sparked heated debates about cultural sentiments and free speech in Karnataka.
Among those picked up were women BJP workers, former MP Pratap Simha, and MLA T.S. Srivatsa. Authorities bundled them into vehicles and took them to an unknown spot. When protesters argued back, police quickly overpowered them and made the arrests. To keep things under control, cops blocked the entrance to Chamundeshwari Hills and stationed hundreds of officers at the location.
Interestingly, the drama didn’t stop there. Members of the Dalita Mahasabha, who showed up to back Banu Mushtaq’s selection for the Dussehra inauguration, also faced detention. Both sides clashed with authorities, highlighting the deep divisions over this invite.
Former BJP MP Pratap Simha didn’t hold back while talking to reporters. "Booker awardee Banu Mushtaq sounds like a Taliban militant in her videos," he said. "They’ve exposed her real views, but she hasn’t apologized to the Kannada people even after that. We’ve gone to court to stop her from inaugurating Dussehra. The Hindu Jagarana Vedike organized this protest rally to fight this."
Simha went on to blast the Siddaramaiah-led government. "They’re detaining everyone who dares to protest, chasing us down like criminals. This Congress regime acts just like the Taliban— no doubt about it. CM Siddaramaiah is a law graduate; he knows protesting is our constitutional right. Banu Mushtaq insulted Kannada sentiments by badmouthing the Kannada flag and Goddess Bhuvaneshwari."
He added a sharp jab: "If CM Siddaramaiah likes her so much, he can invite Banu Mushtaq to his son’s wedding and honor her there. Dussehra is about worshipping Goddess Chamundeshwari. If he’d just asked her to apologize for her controversial remarks on Hindu gods and the Kannada flag, we wouldn’t be here." Simha accused the chief minister of favoring people who "insult the Kannada language and Hindu feelings."
This Mysuru protest against Banu Mushtaq’s Dussehra role has now drawn national attention, with many wondering how the court case will play out. As Karnataka gears up for the vibrant festival, the row over cultural respect and government choices keeps everyone talking. Stay tuned for updates on this Karnataka politics showdown.
