Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has stirred a major controversy by declaring that Chamundi Hill is “not the property of Hindus alone.” His remark, made while defending the government’s decision over Dasara festivities, has been slammed as a direct insult to the sanctity of one of the most revered Shakti Peethas in Southern Bharat. For crores of devotees, Chamundeshwari is not just a deity but a living tradition rooted in Hindu Dharma, and dismissing its exclusive Hindu heritage has been seen as an affront to the faith.
The backlash has been immediate and intense. Members of the Mysuru royal family, including MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, reminded Shivakumar that Chamundi Betta is a Shakti Peetha sanctified by the Shastras and has always been the soul of Mysuru’s Hindu traditions. Political opponents, particularly from the BJP, have demanded an apology, accusing the Congress government of indulging in appeasement politics at the cost of hurting Hindu sentiments. As per the Public TV reports, even Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje joined the criticism, pointing out that over 3,500 temples in Karnataka are under the Muzrai Department, which itself recognizes these institutions as Hindu religious centers.
For devotees, the issue is not merely political; it is about safeguarding civilizational identity. Chamundeshwari Temple stands at the heart of Mysuru’s cultural and spiritual life, presiding over the famous Dasara celebrations that symbolize Hindu valor and devotion. By portraying the hill and temple as belonging to “all religions,” Shivakumar has been accused of erasing this legacy and diluting centuries-old Hindu traditions to suit political narratives.
This controversy highlights a larger concern about how temples and Hindu heritage are treated by the state. While other communities enjoy freedom to manage their places of worship, Hindu temples remain under government control, often subjected to interference and reinterpretation. For many Hindus, the Chamundi Hill incident is a reminder of the urgent need to reclaim temple autonomy and resist attempts to undermine their faith under the guise of “secularism” and “inclusivity.”
The Karnataka Congress government is running cheap Islamic favoritism politics. First, they nominated Banu Mushtaq, a so-called Booker awardee who has never shown respect towards the Hindu faith and disrespected Bhuvaneshwari Devi, to inaugurate Mysore Dasara, a Hindu festival of immense cultural and spiritual significance. Ironically, the actual recognition goes to the translator, Deepa Bhasti from Kodagu, yet she has not been invited. Why this double standard? Why bring in Banu Mushtaq, sidelining the true contributor, and more importantly, insulting Hindu traditions? What problem does the Congress party have with Hindus? Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, who often projects himself as a devotee by visiting temples and wearing rudraksha, is now showing clear double standards when it comes to respecting Hindu sentiments. Such political opportunism is not acceptable when the faith of crores of Hindus is involved.
“The backlash has been immediate and intense.”
Really? No mainstream media has mentioned it. RSS media has not reported it.
“For crores of devotees, Chamundeshwari is not just a deity but a living tradition rooted in Hindu Dharma, and dismissing its exclusive Hindu heritage has been seen as an affront to the faith.”
There is no news of public coming out in streets to protest. These crores of devotees are expressing this affront to their faith like by observing Maun Vrat?
Organizations like RSS, VHP, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, Ram Sena and all other senas, sanghs, etc. are also basically ignoring it, because if not, then they will have to organize street protests and no devotee out of crores of devotees are brave or concerned enough to react. RSS media https://organiser.org does not mention this shocking news on their front portal, maybe hidden somewhere.
While it is appreciated that HinduPost and their volunteers are highlighting these atrocities on Hindus (otherwise we will not even know this perfidious and pernicious behavior of Rudraksh wearing Chhadm Hindu D.K. Shivakumar), it would help to know what protest plans, if any, major Hindu organizations have.