BANU MUSHTAQ INAUGURATING DASARA IS RIGHT DECISION, PEOPLE HAVE ACCEPTED IT: SIDDA

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on londay strongly defended his government's decision to invite International Booker Prize winner writer Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara, and said majority people of the state have accepted it, and it has brought respect for the state.

- ‘TDG NETWORK

He said Dasara is not a festival of any one religion or caste, it is a festival of all. It is “Nada Habba” (state festival), the festival of the people.

The famous 11-day Dasara celebrations commenced in this city of palaces on Monday amid religious and traditional fervour, with Mushtaq inaugurating it.

The inauguration took place amid controversy, with objections from some sections against the government's decision to invite Mushtaq.

“Banu Mushtaq may be a Muslim woman by birth, but she is a human being first. Humans should love and respect each other and there should be no hate based on one's caste and religion, as it is not the characteristic of humanity,” Siddaramaiah said.