'Supreme Court verdict a slap on BJP': Congress' BK Hariprasad on Banu Mushtaq-Mysuru Dasara row

BK Hariprasad

Congress leader BK Hariprasad from Karnataka on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a plea against inviting writer Banu Mushtaq for the Mysuru Dasara inauguration, calling it “a slap on BJP.”

“The judgement of the Supreme Court is a slap on BJP. Constitution is inclusive... Whenever the Government functions, it is under the Constitution, it is not a religious function. When it is a Government function, every citizen has the right to participate, practice and propagate," Hariprasad told ANI.

"People who don’t believe in Constitution will speak against Banu Mushtaq. She is one of the greatest writers... Instead of celebrating her, just because of her religion somebody is speaking against her participation in Dasara. This is very unfortunate, it shows the mindset of the BJP,” he said.

On Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition questioning Karnataka’s decision to invite International Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the state festival, which begins September 22.

“What is the preamble of this country?” a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked, before stressing, “It is not a private programme. The state is organising it. How can the state distinguish between A, B and C?”

Petitioner’s counsel H S Gaurav, however, contended that while “there is no dispute about the inauguration of the event, calling it a secular activity,” what occurs within the temple premises cannot be considered secular. “That is purely not a secular activity. It attains the colour of a spiritual act or a religious act,” he said, claiming his Article 25 rights were being affected.

The bench referred to the Karnataka High Court’s September 15 order, which had already rejected four PILs on the matter, including one filed by former BJP MP Pratap Simha. The high court had noted that in 2017, Dr Nissar Ahmed was invited to inaugurate the festivities and one of the petitioners had shared the stage with him. “Is that correct or not?” the bench asked.

The lawyer responded, “They can’t interfere with my religious activities,” insisting that inside the Chamundeshwari Temple premises, “a ceremony and a puja is being conducted and they are made a part of that ceremony, it is totally different.” He said the state’s move was “purely political.”

At that point, Justice Nath made it clear: “We have said three times, dismissed.”

The counsel pressed further, claiming since 2017 “statements were made against religion” and argued, “You can’t invite such a person. There are two things. One person who professes secular credentials and other person who takes a diagonally opposite stand against us.” He added that Mushtaq may be allowed to inaugurate but “she can’t be made a part of the rituals inside the temple premises.”

The appeal had challenged the high court’s reasoning, arguing that the inaugural rituals of Dasara at the Chamundeshwari Temple are “not merely symbolic but constitute an essential religious practice protected under Article 25.” The plea said offering kumkum, turmeric, flowers, and fruits before the sanctum sanctorum of Goddess Chamundeshwari are acts governed by Agamic traditions that “cannot be performed by a non-Hindu.”

Despite opposition from some sections, the Mysuru district administration had on September 3 formally invited Banu Mushtaq. The controversy had also been fuelled by allegations that the writer made remarks perceived by some groups as “anti-Hindu” and “anti-Kannada.”

Dasara festivities in Mysuru will run from September 22 to October 2, culminating on “Vijayadashami.” The celebrations traditionally begin with the showering of flowers on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, accompanied by Vedic hymns inside the temple atop Chamundi Hills.

With inputs from agencies