‘Why Do You Even Come Here?’ Siddaramaiah Loses Cool During Mysuru Dasara Event | Politics News

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lost his temper on Monday. (X)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was seen losing his temper during the inauguration of the Mysuru Dasara festival at the Chamundeshwari temple on Chamundi Hills on Monday. From the stage, he was seen pointing towards a section of the audience and scolding those who were allegedly creating a disturbance during the event.

“Can’t you sit for a little while? Sit down. Who is that? If I tell you once, don’t you understand? Why did you even come here? You should have stayed at home,” an irked Siddaramaiah was heard saying in Kannada as per the now viral video.

Turning to the police, he then instructed officials not to allow the individuals to leave the venue. “Police, don’t let them go. Can’t you sit for half an hour or an hour? Then, why are you attending this function?”

Mysuru Dasara Row

The 11-day Dasara festival began in the city of palaces today.

Meanwhile, this year’s celebration stirred controversy over the government’s choice of International Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the event.

Opposition leaders, particularly from the BJP, objected strongly, citing an old video of Mushtaq that resurfaced online. In that clip, she reportedly expressed reservations about worshipping the Kannada language as “Goddess Bhuvaneshwari,” saying such practices were exclusionary to minorities like herself.

Several sections also objected to extending the honour to the author, alleging that she has made statements in the past that are perceived by some as “anti-Hindu” and “anti Kannada”.

However, Siddaramaiah, standing firmly by the decision to invite her, defended the inclusivity of the festival. “Dasara is not a festival of any one religion or caste, it is a festival of all,” he said.

He further elaborated, “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.”