CM Siddaramaiah defends inviting Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara
Mysuru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday once again defended the decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year's Mysuru Dasara, reiterating that the festival is celebrated by everyone as 'Nada Habba' (state festival).
To a question about the BJP's 'Chamundeshwari temple chalo' rally on Chamundi hill, the CM said, "Let them do it, who said no?"
BJP leaders, including R Ashoka, have warned about launching 'Chamundeshwari Devastana (temple) chalo' rally, alleging that the Hindu religious centres are being targeted by the ruling Congress as part of a "toolkit" by claiming that the Chamundi Hill which houses the famous Chamundeshwari Temple and the Goddess there does not belong to Hindus alone.
On the controversy over inviting Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festival, Siddaramaiah said, "Mirza Ismail was the Diwan of Mysuru. The then Maharaja used to make him sit on the howdah along with him during the Dasara procession...in 2017 poet K S Nissar Ahmed had inaugurated the Dasara. Where were BJP and RSS then? "
Terming the Mushtaq's alleged comments regarding -- Kannada being worshiped as Goddess "Bhuvaneshwari" and Kannada flag having the colours of arishina (turmeric yellow) and kumkuma (vermillion red) -- as a "different issue", he said, "I don't know whether she had said such things. But, she is a writer in Kannada. Without affection or love for Kannada can she write in Kannada? She has won the International Booker Prize for her work."
Objections have been raised by BJP leaders and others to the state government's decision to invite Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festivities, following an old video that went viral, in which she has reportedly expressed reservations about worshipping the Kannada language as "Goddess Bhuvaneshwari", stating that it was exclusionary to people like her (minorities).
Several BJP leaders have asked Mushtaq to clarify her reverence towards Goddess Chamundeshwari before consenting to inaugurate the Dasara festival. However, Mushtaq, on her part, has said that her statement has been distorted by making selective parts of her old speech go viral on social media.
Dasara is traditionally inaugurated by showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru and its royals, amid chanting of Vedic hymns, at the premises of Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills in Mysuru.
Responding to a question on a reported statement by BJP leaders that they have no objections if Mushtaq comes to inaugurate Dasara, adorning herself with turmeric, vermillion and flowers, the CM hitting out at the opposition party said, Mysuru Dasara is Nada Habba (state festival), and people of all faiths participate and celebrate it.
"She belongs to the Muslim community. Is it there in her religion to do such things? How can you ask someone from another religion to apply vermillion, become a Hindu to participate in the Nada Habba?" he asked.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka govt to strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy, after HC directive
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the government will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy across all sectors at the earliest, following the High Court directive.
The High Court of Karnataka had recently directed the state government to "strictly and faithfully" implement the menstrual leave policy, pending formal enactment of the proposed legislation.
"I welcome the directive issued by the Karnataka High Court in support of our state government's ambitious menstrual leave policy," Lad said.
The state government has taken firm steps to implement the menstrual leave policy comprehensively, and as a model to the country, he said in a post on 'X' on Thursday.
"In line with the court's opinion that menstrual leave is a matter of women's dignity, justice, and humane recognition of their lived realities, we will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy--equivalent to one day per month, or 12 days per year--across all sectors at the earliest," he added.
The court had said that in the interregnum, it shall be incumbent upon the state to ensure effective operationalisation of the policy through the issuance of suitable guidelines, circulars, and administrative instructions, as may be necessary to secure its uniform, consistent, and rigorous implementation across all sectors.
The court issued the directive while hearing on a petition filed by 41-year-old Chandravva Hanumant Gokavi, who works in a hotel in Mudalgi of Gokak taluk in Belagavi district, before the Dharwad bench, seeking implementation of the November 20, 2025, order of the government providing one-day menstrual leave for all working women.
