Mysuru; A political storm has erupted over the alleged removal of nameplates honouring prominent figures who have contributed to Karnataka’s art, literature, and culture during the ongoing Mysore Dussehra exhibition. The move has sparked outrage, with BJP state president BY Vijayendraaccusing the Congress government of disrespecting Kannada heritage by likening the act to the “cultural destruction” of Ghazni Muhammad, a historical figure infamous for attacking Hindu temples.
Vijayendra took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his anger, posting a photo and harshly criticizing the Congress government’s actions. He claimed that the removal of these plaques was a direct affront to the dignity of Kannada culture and traditions during a festival that celebrates the state’s rich heritage.
“ದಸರೆಯ ಮೊದಲ ದಿನವೇ
ಘಜನಿ ಮಹಮದ್ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಮೆರೆದ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ"ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಹಿಂದೂ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳನ್ನು ಧ್ವಂಸ ಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಕುಖ್ಯಾತಿಯ ಘಜ್ನಿ ಮಹಮದ್ ನ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ನಾಡ ಹಬ್ಬ ದಸರೆಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೆರೆದು ಕನ್ನಡ ನಾಡಿನ ಮಹನೀಯರನ್ನು ಅವಮಾನಿಸಿದೆ, ಇದು ನಾಡಹಬ್ಬಕ್ಕೆ ಬಳಿದ ಕಪ್ಪುಮಸಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.
ಈ ಹಿಂದೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ… pic.twitter.com/qSzvQQX4OZ
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) October 3, 2024
“The Congress government has smeared Karnataka’s Nadahabba (state festival) by mocking the culture of Ghazni Muhammad, who destroyed Hindu temples during Dussehra. This is nothing short of an insult to the people of Karnataka,” Vijayendra wrote in his post.
He went on to emphasize the significance of the Mysore Dussehra exhibition, stating that in the past, it had always celebrated Karnataka’s cultural grandeur by honoring great men such as Purandara Dasa, Kanaka Dasa, Kuvempu, Dr. Rajkumar, VK Gokak, and others. These cultural icons contributed immensely to Kannada language, literature, and the arts, and the nameplates were traditionally displayed in the exhibition for the public to honor and remember their legacy.
However, following the appointment of Ayub Khan as the Chairman of the Mysore Dussehra Exhibition Authority by the Congress government, Vijayendra alleged that the nameplates had been removed at the start of the Navaratri festival, which marks the beginning of the Dussehra celebrations. He accused the government of dishonoring these revered figures and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take immediate corrective action.
“The Congress government should apologize to the people of Karnataka by reinstalling the nameplates immediately. The CM, who hails from Mysore, must take responsibility for this misdeed,” Vijayendra demanded. He further called for the removal of the current Chairman of the Exhibition Authority, stating that the mismanagement was unacceptable.
Adding fuel to the fire, the BJP shared a video alongside Vijayendra’s post, which criticized the Congress for its alleged continuous attacks on Karnataka’s culture and traditions. The BJP claimed that the Siddaramaiah government’s actions were part of an “anti-Kannada” agenda and vowed to oppose any such moves vehemently.
“The attack on Kannada culture is reprehensible. Siddaramaiah should reinstall the nameplates honoring these great men and apologize to the people of Karnataka. The BJP will never tolerate an attack on the state’s culture and language,” the BJP’s statement read.
The controversy doesn’t end there. Former MP Pratap Simha also voiced his displeasure over the installation of Gumbaj-style lighting on Sayajirao Road in Mysore as part of the Dussehra decorations. Simha took to social media to express his concern, calling for the immediate removal of the green slab lighting, which he believes does not reflect Karnataka’s cultural identity.
ಸಯ್ಯಾಜಿ ರಾವ್ ರಸ್ತೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಇದನ್ನ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಲು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದೇನೆ. pic.twitter.com/4FxlVocCiD
— Prathap Simha (@mepratap) October 2, 2024
In his tweet, Pratap Simha shared a photo of the lighting and urged the authorities to take action. “I have asked for the green slab lighting on Sayaji Rao Road to be changed,” he tweeted, tagging the relevant authorities.
The installation of the green-colored lighting, which is often associated with Islamic architecture, has stirred debate among certain sections of the public who feel that it is not representative of the traditional Mysore Dussehra celebrations. The lighting is set to be inaugurated by Minister KJ George as part of the Dipalankara (lighting) ceremony.
The opposition BJP has used these incidents to criticize the Congress-led state government, alleging that it is undermining Karnataka’s cultural traditions and failing to respect its icons. The row has added to the political tension in the state, with both sides locked in a battle over the representation of Karnataka’s heritage.
ನಾಡಿನ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ, ಆಚಾರ-ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಸದಾ ದಾಳಿ ಎಸಗುವ ನಾಡದ್ರೋಹಿ @INCKarnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕೊಳಕು ಮನಸ್ಥಿತಿ, ದಸರಾ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದ ಮೊದಲ ದಿನವೇ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನವಾಗಿದೆ.
ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾ ವಸ್ತು ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನದ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಡಿನ ಕಲೆ, ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ, ಮಹನೀಯರ ಕೊಡುಗೆಯ ಅನಾವರಣಕ್ಕೆ ವೇದಿಕೆ ಆಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ, @siddaramaiah ಸರ್ಕಾರದ… pic.twitter.com/Iehl4h4Wso
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 3, 2024
As the Mysore Dussehra celebrations continue, the government is yet to respond to the demands for reinstalling the nameplates and addressing the concerns over the Dussehra decorations. However, the controversy has already cast a shadow over one of Karnataka’s most cherished festivals, and the political fallout from these accusations is likely to intensify in the coming day.
