BJP Leaders Detained in Chamundi Hill Protest in Mysuru

Tensions flared in Mysuru on Tuesday as police detained several BJP leaders, including MLA TS Srivathsa and former MP Pratap Simha, along with members of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike, for attempting to stage an unauthorized ‘Chamundi Hill Chalo’ march. The protest, aimed at the revered Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hill, was in response to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s controversial claim that the hill “is not the property of Hindus alone.”

The demonstrators gathered in large numbers at Kurubarahalli Circle on Chamundi Hill road, intending to march to the temple to assert their stance. However, Mysuru police, citing law and order concerns and the sensitivity of the situation, had already denied permission for the rally. As the protesters attempted to proceed, authorities swiftly intervened, taking them into preventive custody to prevent escalation.

Simultaneously, members of the Dalit Mahasabha, who organized a counter-march to oppose the Hindu Jagarana Vedike’s protest, were also stopped and detained by police. The dual protests underscored deep divisions over Shivakumar’s remarks, which were made in defense of the government’s decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara 2025 festivities on September 22 atop Chamundi Hill.

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The controversy stems from objections by BJP leaders and Hindu groups, who argue that Mushtaq’s selection is inappropriate due to her alleged past statements questioning Hindu traditions. The issue has sparked heated debates, with the state government maintaining that Mysuru Dasara is a secular state festival. As police maintain a heavy presence in Mysuru to prevent further unrest, the detentions highlight the volatile intersection of politics, religion, and public sentiment in the lead-up to the iconic festival.

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