Women writers condemn opposition to Mysuru Dasara inauguration by Banu Mushtaq

Bengaluru: A group of women writers and intellectuals has condemned the opposition to the inauguration of Mysuru Dasara by Banu Mushtaq. Under the banner of Naveddu Nilladiddare, the group has urged the govt to stand by its decision to have the Booker Prize winner inaugurate Nadahabba.Criticising the PIL pleas filed against the govt's decision to invite Banu, the women argued during an interaction at Bengaluru Press Club on Thursday that her viral speech on the significance of the Kannada flag and Bhuvaneshwari was taken out of context to stir controversy. "There was no opposition when poet Nissar Ahmed inaugurated Dasara. But there is opposition to Banu Mushtaq. Is it because she is a woman?" asked writer Vasundhara Bhupathi, adding that "this is not just a religious festival, even though some are trying to give it a religious colour".Vasundhara recalled that when Baraguru Ramachandrappa inaugurated the festival, he did so without offering puja. Activist Akkai Padmashali said Dasara is not anyone's personal festival; it is the state festival. "It is the intention of those opposing the inauguration by Banu Mushtaq to disturb peace in society. The govt must provide security to her," she said.Meanwhile, writer N Gayatri said: "Who are these people to stop anyone from going to Chamundi Hills?" She hailed Banu for her contributions to Kannada literature and her progressive pro-women views. "We condemn the fundamentalist and communal forces trying to turn the Nadahabba into a communal one," she added.Writer R Sunandamma said the patriarchal society is discriminating against Banu because of her religion and gender. "The people of our state have always been tolerant and harmonious. Every rational person must oppose attempts to ruin this," she said.