Minutes before the ‘pran pratishtha’ in Ayodhya, a group of Dalits blocked BJP MP Pratap Simha from entering Gujjegoudanapura village in Karnataka’s Mysuru from where the ‘Krishna shila’, or black stone, used to carve the idol was sourced. The MP had no choice but to return without attending the special ‘bhoomipujan’ held to coincide with the ceremony at the Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir.
Simha was met with protests and surrounded by a group of Dalits led by former panchayat member Harohalli Suresh. They accused the leader of hurting the community’s feelings and insulting them. They said the two-time MP had neglected the Dalits and was visiting only because the elections are near.
Suresh continued to argue with Simha amid a gathering of village residents, security personnel and other leaders. Asking the BJP leader to immediately walk away from the function, Suresh questioned Simha: “How can you come to this land that belongs to Dalits after insulting us during the Mahisha Dasara and threatening to trample us?”
Simha responded: “I am not anti-Dalit.” He tried to calm the protesters, saying his statements had been distorted. But the group was not convinced and asked him to go back.
“You need not say anything more. We ask you to go back,” said Suresh, echoed by those supporting him. Unable to convince the crowd, Simha sat in his official vehicle and left the place.
Simha had won from the Mysuru Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and 2019. Local MLA GT Devegowda of the JD(S), which is now an ally of the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, was also present when the confrontation took place.
Ramdas, the owner of the land from which three parts of rock were dredged out, belongs to the Dalit community. Mysuru’s well-known sculptor Arun Yogiraj used a 10-foot monolith rock to carve an 8-foot statue of Ram Lalla.
‘Mahisha Dasara’ is celebrated a week after the famed ‘Mysuru Dasara’ and, like every year, Simha had objected to celebrating this alternative Dasara and called it “ugly” and “unconstitutional”. It is an antithetical celebration by those who believe that Mahishasura, contrary to popular belief that he was called a ‘rakshasa’ or demon, was actually a benevolent king.
Simha had said allowing it hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people. The Congress government had distanced itself from the controversy with chief minister Siddaramaiah saying ‘Mahisha Dasara’ was not a government event.
Mythology refers to ‘mahisha’ as an ‘asura’ or demon slain by Chamundeshwari, a Hindu goddess, after a battle spanning more than nine nights or Navratri. On the 10th day, known as Vijayadashami or Dasara, the demon was slain and marked the conquest of good over evil.
Popular legend has it that the name Mysuru is derived from Mahisha-ooru. The organisers of ‘Mahisha Dasara’ argue that painting Mahishasura as an ‘asura’ or demon is an upper-caste conspiracy and claim that if he indeed was an ‘asura’, then why name a city after him.
But, permission to hold ‘Mahisha Dasara’ was granted based on an application by former Mysuru mayor Purushotham, who sought permission to shower petals on the Mahishasura’s statue located atop Chamundi Hills.
Simha’s name was recently linked to the Parliament attack. Six persons triggered a major security scare by popping coloured smoke cans inside and outside the building as a mark of a political protest.
Simha’s office had written to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, which granted two of the accused – Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan – visitors’ passes to enter the premises.
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