Karnataka bans arishina, kumkum in Vidhana Soudha

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticises the move

CM Siddaramaiah issues clarification

The Karnataka government has issued a circular which bans Ayudha puja in Vidhana Soudha. As the circular went viral and allegations of ‘anti-Hindu’ surfaced, CM Siddaramaiah himself issued a clarification, saying such a circular was issued by earlier governments too. 

However, Bangalore South MP, Tejasvi Surya criticised the move.

Taking to X, he made his stance clear. Furthermore, he also took a dig at DMK for banning idols in all government offices during the festival. 

“Even while CM Siddaramaiah has come up with a clarification, his alliance partner DMK Govt’s iconoclastic circular, which bans use of all pictures or idols of deities during Ayudha Puja stands,” he noted. 

It’s good that @CMofKarnataka was constrained to issue a clarification on the Ayudha Puja Govt Order (GO), after much public backlash.

GOs of this kind, issued by a Congress-Siddaramaiah Govt isn’t innocent, innocuous or new. Several examples in the past expose the open… https://t.co/97z8qyCph0

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 19, 2023

The government based its orders on the fact that smearing of kumkum (vermilion) or arishina (turmeric) may destroy the walls of the iconic Vidhana Soudha. It also added that these powders may have been chemically created, which contributes a great deal in destroying the cultural identity of the building. 

Mahisha Dasara 

Earlier this week, the celebration of Mahisha Dasara in Mysuru was in the news as several right-wing advocates did not extend their support to it. 

Now, even this article is being written, the DC of Chikkamagaluru has imposed prohibitory orders as there are differences in the celebration of the same festival in this part of the state.