Chamundi Chalo rally foiled, BJP, Hindu Jagaran Vedike supporters taken into preventive custody

Scores of BJP activists and VHP supporters were taken into preventive custody by the police who foiled a Chamundi Chalo rally called by the Hindu Jagaran Vedike, in Mysuru on Tuesday (September 9, 2025).

The rally was organized to protest the Government’s decision to invite writer Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara festival slated to be held from September 22 to October 2, 2025.

The police had already denied permission to hold the rally in view of the sensitivity of the situation and concern over law and order. Besides, Dasara-related works are underway and the rally could hamper the preparations while tourists and devotees visiting the popular shrine could also be put to inconvenience.

However, the activists assembled in large numbers at Kurubarahalli Circle where a strong posse of police was deployed to thwart their bid to flout the ban orders. There were multiple layer of security cordon and the BJP leaders including former MLA L.Nagendra condemned, what he described as ‘’police atrocity’’.

‘’The Deputy Chief Miniter D.K.Shivakumar has already stated that Chamundi Hills or Chamundeshwari temple did not belong to the Hindus alone and this has hurt our sentiments. Hence, an attempt is being made to assert our claims over the hills and the temple and yet the police, under duress from the government, is stopping us’’, said Mr.Nagendra.

Krishnaraja MLA T.S.Srivatsa and others sought to know from the police whether prohibitory orders were in place. When told that no such orders were in force, they challenged the authorities on what grounds they were being taken into preventive custody.

Another large group of activists also tried to break through the police cordon at Kurubarahalli Circle from where the road leads to Chamundi Hills. But they too were prevented from marching further and taken into custody.

Incidentally, another group had called for a harmony rally to Chamundi Hills on Tuesday but permission was denied to them as well.