Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who had earlier opposed Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara, said that temples are not “secular spaces” but sacred institutions belonging to Hindus.
Published Aug 27, 2025 | 6:32 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 27, 2025 | 6:32 PM
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar countered the BJP, stating that the Dasara festival is not limited to any one religion or caste.
Synopsis: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s remarks that the Chamundi Hills in Mysuru are open to people of all faiths, made while defending the Congress government’s decision to invite Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara, have drawn criticism from state BJP leaders for allegedly insulting Hindu sentiments.
The row over the Congress-led Karnataka government’s decision to invite veteran Kannada writer and International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara has now morphed into a battle over the cultural ownership of the festival and the religious identity of Chamundi Hill.
State BJP leaders have launched scathing attacks against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for stating that Chamundi Hill is open to people of all faiths.
Mushtaq’s invitation had recently come under fire from BJP leaders, who cited portions of her 2023 Jana Sahitya Sammelana speech, reflecting on the symbolic and cultural appropriation of the Kannada language, as evidence of her alleged hostility to Hindu traditions.
On Tuesday, 27 August, Shivakumar joined several Congress leaders who have stood by Mushtaq and the decision to invite her to inaugurate the state-sponsored festival, countering that the Dasara festival is not confined to one religion or caste.
“People from every community visit Chamundi Hill and offer prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari. It is not the property of Hindus alone,” he told reporters, adding that Hindus also visit mosques, dargahs, Jain temples, churches, and gurdwaras.
“Has anyone ever stopped us from entering gurdwaras? Have we ever opposed them coming to Hindu temples? Anyone can visit any place of worship,” he asked.
“Ours is a secular nation. Our Constitution has provided opportunities and freedom for everyone. The Constitution guarantees protection to all. Everyone has faith in their own beliefs. Children born to Muslim or Christian women and Hindu men from other religions follow whichever faith they choose.”
Referring to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, he said: “Why is there no board saying only Hindus may come for darshan of Lord Ram? When the BJP was in power in Karnataka, and even now, why haven’t Haj committees and minority departments been abolished across the country? This is all politics.”
The remarks, however, drew sharp criticism from BJP state leaders, who have been selectively quoting Shivakumar to claim that the “Congress has always insulted Hindu sentiments.”
Mysuru MP and royal scion Yaduveer Wadiyar described Shivakumar’s comments on the day of the Gowri festival as “extremely unfortunate and condemnable.”
“Chamundi Hill is a Shakti Peetha sanctified by scriptures and worshipped by crores of Hindus. This temple was, is, and will forever remain that of the Hindus,” he wrote in a post on X.
While acknowledging Mushtaq’s literary achievements, Wadiyar questioned her position on Hindu traditions and said: “The Congress has always insulted Hindu sentiments and showcased its fake secularism. The people of Karnataka respect all religions. However, they will never tolerate the continuous attacks on Hindu festivals, traditions, and temples.”
ಗೌರಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ದಿನವೇ ಡಿಸಿಎಂ ಡಿ.ಕೆ. ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್ “ಚಾಮುಂಡಿ ಬೆಟ್ಟ, ಚಾಮುಂಡಿ ದೇವರು ಹಿಂದೂಗಳ ಆಸ್ತಿ ಅಲ್ಲ” ಎಂದಿರುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುಃಖಕರ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಂದನೀಯ.
ಚಾಮುಂಡಿ ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಶಕ್ತಿಪೀಠ – ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಸಮ್ಮತವಾಗಿ ಪವಿತ್ರಗೊಂಡು ಕೋಟ್ಯಾಂತರ ಹಿಂದೂಗಳಿಂದ ಆರಾಧಿತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ದೇವಾಲಯ ಹಿಂದೂಗಳದ್ದೇ ಆಗಿತ್ತು, ಇದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ.… https://t.co/qy3JSh3uPU
— Yaduveer Wadiyar (@yaduveerwadiyar) August 26, 2025
BJP state president and MLA BY Vijayendra also targeted Shivakumar, accusing him of using the issue to distract from internal troubles within his party.
“Do not try to use Chamundi Hill and the traditional Dasara festival as an escape from the troubles you are facing within your own party. You, who used to bark like a dog, have already turned into a frog. If you go to mess with Chamundi Mother, you will turn to ashes politically, beware,” he wrote in a post on X.
He further alleged that Shivakumar was attempting to tarnish “the Hindu tradition’s Vijayadashami festival,” claiming that “the time when Mahishasura Mardini will crush you is not far.”
The official Karnataka BJP handle also joined in, declaring that the Congress was repeatedly hurting Hindu sentiments for the sake of appeasement politics.
“After Dharmasthala, Congress has set its sights on the abode of the state deity Chamundi Devi!” the post said.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who had earlier opposed Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara, added that temples are not “secular spaces” but sacred institutions belonging to Hindus.
She alleged that Shivakumar was attempting to appease the Congress high command, which had reprimanded him earlier for reciting the RSS prayer in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, and accused the party of adopting a consistently anti-Hindu stance.
On Wednesday, Shivakumar doubled down his remarks, dismissing the criticism as part of the BJP’s political strategy.
“Chamundeshwari Mother is the presiding deity of our region. Those who worship her, believe in her, honour her are found in all castes and religions. Her darshan is the right of everyone. Mother is the asset of all devotees, of all the children of the region, not limited to anyone. No one can say no to worshipping the Mother. This is the essence of my words,” he wrote in a post on X.
ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಡ ಹಬ್ಬ – ದಸರಾ
ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಡ ದೇವತೆ – ಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿ ತಾಯಿ ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಡಿನ ಅಧಿದೇವತೆ. ಈ ತಾಯಿಯನ್ನು ಆರಾಧಿಸುವವರು, ನಂಬುವವರು, ಗೌರವಿಸುವವರು ಎಲ್ಲ ಜಾತಿ, ಧರ್ಮಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆಕೆಯ ದರ್ಶನ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಹಕ್ಕು. ತಾಯಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಭಕ್ತರ, ನಾಡಿನ ಎಲ್ಲ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಆಸ್ತಿ, ಯಾರೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ಸೀಮಿತ ಅಲ್ಲ. ತಾಯಿಯನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಿದರೆ… pic.twitter.com/AiG8RrMrVZ
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) August 27, 2025
He also pointed out that the Mysuru royal family itself has permitted people from all communities across the country and even abroad to participate in Dasara celebrations, stating that the regional festival belongs to people of all religions.
In turn, Wadiyar claimed that while ‘people of all religions can participate,’ fundamentally, it is a Hindu festival. “Its date is determined by the Hindu panchang. It is not a festival that can be changed according to someone’s whims or sentiments,” he wrote.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
