Mysuru: BJP leader objects to MP Pratap Simha's opposition to 'Mahisha Dasara' celebration
Mysuru: In a surprising turn of events, senior BJP leader Giridhar has raised objections to Member of Parliament (MP) Pratap Simha's stance against the 'Mahisha Dasara' celebration, asserting that the MP is misusing his position within the party.
Giridhar has urged the Karnataka government and Mysuru district authorities to allow the observance of 'Mahisha Dasara' as it holds significance as a local tradition during the Dasara festivities.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Press Club in Mysuru on Wednesday, Giridhar emphasized that every citizen has the constitutional right to worship a deity of their choice. He condemned Pratap Simha's attempt to oppose 'Mahisha Dasara,' highlighting that it was the MP's personal opinion and not a party directive. Giridhar pointed out that Pratap Simha lacks the authority to interfere with an age-old convention, stressing that the MP does not own the Chamundi Hills, a revered place visited by people of all religions.
Giridhar asserted that the local BJP in Mysuru supports the 'Mahisha Dasara' tradition and expressed disappointment at Pratap Simha's attempts to curtail it. He revealed that the MP's statement, claiming that 5,000 people would protest against the convention, did not resonate with the local BJP members. Giridhar urged the Mysuru authorities to permit the residents to observe 'Mahisha Dasara' without hindrance.
In a scathing criticism of Pratap Simha, Giridhar stated that the MP, despite being elected to the Lok Sabha to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been acting unilaterally without consulting others. Giridhar accused Pratap Simha of making derogatory statements about Muslims, damaging the party's reputation in the state. He stressed the need for the BJP to rein in members like Pratap Simha to ensure the party's unity and effectiveness in the upcoming political endeavors.
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
