Mysuru, Aug. 25 -- Congress leader and Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday defended the state government's decision to invite Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the 'Mysore Dasara' festival 2025 and urged critics not to communalise the event.

Speaking on the controversy, Parameshwara told mediapersons, "It is not right to oppose this. This is not a religious issue. Dasara is a national festival." He stressed that Dasara celebrations represented Karnataka's heritage and culture, and not just a religious practice.

Karnataka Minister HK Patil also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying this is one of the good decisions that the government has taken, and the BJP should reconsider their thought process....