Dasara drama unfolds

Strap: Royals slam Deputy CM’s remarks on Chamundi Hill as controversy and debates overshadow 2025 Dasara celebrations

OB Bureau

Mysuru is in the eye of a storm ahead of the 2025 Dasara celebrations, as Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s recent remarks sparked outrage. Midweek, Shivakumar declared that Chamundi Hill and the iconic Chamundeshwari Temple “belong to every religion, not just Hindus.” The statement, made in response to opposition over the government’s decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara atop the hill on September 22, drew sharp fire from the BJP and the erstwhile Mysuru royal family.

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, matriarch of the royal household, expressed “deep dismay” over the controversy. In a statement on Thursday, she called Shivakumar’s comments “insensitive” and unnecessary, pointing out that Chamundeshwari Temple is under the Muzrai Department precisely because it is a Hindu shrine. She emphasised that the state’s Dasara is a cultural festival, not a religious ritual, and that the royal family continues to perform age-old dharmic practices privately.

Her son, Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, went further on Wednesday, calling the Deputy CM’s statement “shocking” and a “joke.” He accused Shivakumar of attempting to “balance things” after facing criticism for reciting an RSS prayer song in the Assembly. Yaduveer cited historical and puranic references, noting that rishi Markandeya performed penance on Chamundi Hill and installed idols there thousands of years ago. “Chamundi Hill belongs to Hindus and it is their property. The Deputy CM’s remarks cannot change that,” he said, terming them “condemnable.”

The Mushtaq invitation has added fuel to the fire. An old viral video reportedly showed her expressing reservations about worshipping Kannada as Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, calling it exclusionary to minorities. BJP leaders, including state president B Y Vijayendra and Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, demanded clarifications before the inauguration. Mushtaq, however, claims her words were selectively edited and distorted on social media.

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar also addressed the timing and conduct of the Dasara festivities. She noted that the government schedules cultural celebrations near the palace to avoid overlapping with traditional royal rituals and fixes auspicious timings for the grand procession of Sri Chamundeshwari on Vijayadashami. She expressed hope that celebrations like Ganesh Chaturthi will “remove obstacles, misconceptions, and conflicts” and that consensus will eventually be reached.

The debate reflects broader tensions over heritage, religion, and secular governance in Karnataka. While the government frames Dasara as a cultural event open to all, the royal family insists on the temple’s religious significance. Yaduveer Wadiyar underscored that allowing everyone to visit the temple does not negate its Hindu identity, cautioning against misusing secular principles to redefine historical and religious boundaries.

Dasara 2025 is set to begin on September 22 and culminate on Vijayadashami, October 2. With politics, social media controversies, and royal objections converging, this year’s festivities promise to be as dramatic as they are grand.

HL: ‘Better not to speak’: DKS on Dasra row

OB Bureau

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar opted for silence midweek amid growing controversies, directing queries to the party’s spokespersons instead. Shivakumar, who has recently faced criticism for singing the RSS anthem in the Assembly, and for stating that Chamundi Hill is “not the exclusive property of Hindus,” appeared visibly frustrated during interactions with the press.

“You see, people don’t tolerate when I speak some facts, be it Pramoda Devi, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar, or even inside the Assembly. People’s only job is to find fault in whatever I utter—be it politicians, journalists, or anybody else. This is what is going on. Better not to speak. There are other leaders and party spokespersons. You better speak to them,” he told the press.

Shivakumar’s remark drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders. Mysuru MP and scion of the erstwhile royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar, called the statement “painful and ridiculous,” saying it hurt Hindu sentiments during a time when devotees worship Goddess Gouri and Ganesha.

The BJP has also attacked the Congress for inviting Banu Mushtaq, a Booker Prize-winning Kannada litterateur from the Muslim community, to inaugurate the Dasara festivities this year. Party leaders alleged Mushtaq has no respect for Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, a form of Goddess Chamundeshwari, and warned of a potential protest movement.

Meanwhile, targeting Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh commented on social media, alleging that the party leadership forced Shivakumar to apologise for singing the RSS anthem on August 21 inside the Karnataka Assembly. “Let that sink in … @INCIndia under @RahulGandhi will never tolerate anything concerned with nationalism. They hate it tooth and nail,” Santhosh posted on social media.

Shivakumar, who is also Karnataka Congress president, had tendered an apology following criticism from some party workers over his recital of the anthem. Despite the backlash from multiple fronts, he signalled that he would not engage directly with the media on these issues going forward.

HL: KSRTC bus crashes, six killed

OB Bureau

Tragedy struck Thalappady in Kerala’s Kasaragod district midweek when a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus lost control and rammed into a roadside bus shelter, claiming six lives.

Preliminary reports indicate that the accident occurred after the brakes of the speeding bus failed. The vehicle first struck an auto-rickshaw parked nearby, killing the driver and a 10-year-old girl travelling with him instantly.

The bus then ploughed into the bus shelter, where several passengers were waiting. Among the victims were three women, including Thalappady resident Lakshmi, and four Karnataka residents – Ayesha, Hasna, Khadeeja Nafeesa, and Havamumma.

Several passengers aboard the bus sustained injuries, though authorities are yet to confirm their condition. Eyewitnesses described chaos as the bus veered off the road, hitting the stationary auto before crashing into the waiting crowd. Locals and police rushed to the scene to assist with rescue operations, with the injured shifted to nearby hospitals in Mangaluru.

Allegations have emerged over the poor condition of the bus, with locals claiming the tyres were completely worn out and the vehicle lacked valid insurance. These concerns have sparked outrage in the border region, highlighting potential negligence by transport authorities in enforcing safety standards.

Police have launched a formal investigation, expected to examine the mechanical condition of the bus and verify compliance with insurance and road safety regulations. Authorities have urged transport operators to adhere strictly to safety norms to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The incident has left the community grieving and demanding accountability, raising pressing questions about the safety of interstate buses and the oversight of transport authorities.