We will fight those opposing Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara, politically and legally: CM
Vijayapura (PTI): Those opposing International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq inaugurating this year's 'Mysuru Dasara', will be fought both politically and legally, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday.
Chief minister accused the BJP of doing politics in this issue.
He was responding to a question on BJP leader and former Mysuru MP Prathap Simha moving the Karnataka High Court on Saturday seeking a stay on the state government's invitation to Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara.
"Very happy, let him (Simha) go (to court), it will be decided in the court. Why had no one gone to court when (poet) Nissar Ahmed inaugurated Dasara? He (Simha) was an MP then," Siddaramiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he pointed out that Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan had held Dasara festivals during their rule in Mysuru and Mirza Ismail, as Diwan of Mysuru, used to go on an elephant ride during the Dasara procession.
"They (BJP) are opposing for the sake of politics, we will also fight it out politically, also legally in the court," he added.
Dasara celebration will begin in Mysuru from September 22 and culminate on 'Vijayadashami', which falls on October 2 this year.
To a question on Mushtaq's alleged comments regarding the mother Kannada and Kannada flag that led to controversy, the CM said, "She is a Kannada writer. She got the International Booker Prize for her work....she is a Kannada literary figure and so the government has invited her to inaugurate Dasara."
Mysuru district administration on Wednesday had formally invited Mushtaq, despite objections from some sections, including opposition BJP.
Dasara is traditionally inaugurated on the first day of Navaratri by showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru amid chanting of Vedic hymns, at the premises of Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills in Mysuru.
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Budget allocation to AYUSH Ministry sees 20% rise
New Delhi (PTI): Budget allocation for the AYUSH ministry saw 20 per cent increase, from Rs 3,671.82 crore (revised estimates) in FY 2025-26 to Rs 4,408.93 crore in FY 2026-27.
The government has also announced the setting up of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to strengthen research in the field.
Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Ancient Indian Yoga, already respected in several parts of the world, was given a mass global recognition when the Prime Minister took it to the United Nations."
Stating that post-Covid Ayurveda has gained similar global acceptance and recognition, Sitharaman said exporting quality Ayurvedic products could help farmers who grow the herbs and the youth who process them.
To meet the global demand, she proposed setting up of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, upgrading AYUSH pharmacies and drug-testing labs for higher standards of certification ecosystem, making available more skilled personnel, and upgrading the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar to bolster evidence-based research, training and awareness on traditional medicine.
Among the Centrally sponsored schemes, the allocation for the National AYUSH Mission has been increased from Rs 780.96 crore in FY 2025-26 to Rs 1,300 crore in FY 2026-27, registering 66.5 per cent hike.
The allocation for the All India Institute of Ayurveda has been reduced by 12 per cent.
Funding for the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda has also declined from 279.24 crore to 219.05 crore.
