Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is in the midst of a controversy once again after he claimed that Chamundis Hill in Mysuru, where the famous Chamundeswari Temple is located, is not the property of Hindus alone.
Defending the government decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq, who hails from the state, to inaugurate 'Mysuru Dasara-2025' celebrations, the deputy chief minister said Chamundi Hill and Goddess Chamundi belong to every religion; it is not the property of Hindus alone.
"People of all communities go to Chamundi Hills and offer prayers to the goddess, it is their belief. We go to Churches, Jain temples, Dhargahas, and Gurudwaras...this (opposition to Banu Mushtaq) is all politics," Shivakumar said. Why is Ayodhya Ram Mandir not restricted to Hindus alone, he sought to know.
Mysuru BJP MP and descendant of the Mysore royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, hit out at the Congress leader, saying there is no need to put a secular label on the temple.
Calling the statement "outrageous and shocking," he said it is clearly a Hindu property. He alleged that the government tried to bring the temple under their control by forming the Chamundeshwari Area Development Authority and added that the Congress government in the state is only targeting Hindu temples.
He said it is shocking to hear such irresponsible statements from the deputy chief minister.
#WATCH | Mysuru, Karnataka: BJP MP and erstwhile King from the Mysore royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar says, "As you all know, the Karnataka Govt has invited Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festival. She is a renowned author and has won the Booker… pic.twitter.com/fBBTQpVDZV
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025
Sharply reacting to Shivakumar's statement, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka said Chamundi Hills is definitely a property of Hindus, and not that of Muslims.
"Even if a hundred D.K. Shivakumars come, they can't change it. It is a pucca Hindu property. Chamundi Hills, Dharmasthala, Tirupati, Sabarimala are all properties of Hindus. If you try to touch or alter things at Chamundi Hills, there will be uprising. Be careful, I am giving this warning to the Congress party," he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar's statement, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje says, "To please the Congress high command, DK Shivakumar has started a new controversy. He has made a statement that 'Chamundi Hills is not only for Hindus.' I want to ask him why?...… pic.twitter.com/eRFjtxOWeo
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2025
Union minister Shobha Karandlaje claimed that Shivakumar is making such statements to please the Congress high command. "He has made a statement that 'Chamundi Hills is not only for Hindus.' I want to ask him why?... Chamundi Hills belongs to Hindus, and the temple is also for Hindus... In our state, the Waqf property dispute is still ongoing. Lakhs of acres of land that belong to farmers have been registered in the name of Waqf, and now D.K. Shivakumar wants to add one more property to it."
