A sharp controversy broke out on Thursday, 22 October after Superintendent of Police C.B. Rishyanth, deployed for security at the Mysuru Dasara celebrations, allegedly barred three Dalit ministers of the Karnataka cabinet from participating in the Nandi Dhwaja puja during the Jamboo Savari procession on 21 October. The incident took place near the Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple inside the Mysuru Palace premises, and videos of the confrontation have since gone viral on social media.

What Happened at the Puja Venue

According to protocol, ministers and MLAs accompanying the Chief Minister are permitted to participate in the ritual. However, on 21 October, only Mysuru district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah was initially allowed to enter the puja venue alongside Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadgi, Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendra Swamy, and Muzrai Minister K.S. Basavanteppa were stopped at the entry by SP Rishyanth.

Minister Tangadgi reportedly pushed past the officer, expressing strong displeasure over being prevented from participating. SP Rishyanth then allegedly stood in the way of Ministers Narendra Swamy and Basavanteppa as well. Noticing the commotion, Chief Minister Shivakumar intervened and directed the SP to allow all three ministers entry to the puja venue, after which they were permitted to participate.

Caste Dimension Fuels Outrage

The controversy has taken a sensitive turn given that all three ministers who were initially blocked belong to the Dalit community. Dalit organisations and progressive groups have condemned the incident, raising pointed questions about whether the restriction was deliberate, coincidental, or the result of unclear security instructions. Public debate has also centred on who authorised SP Rishyanth to restrict access — given that no directive from the Chief Minister's office has been cited.

Minister Narendra Swamy reportedly reprimanded the SP, asking him not to make physical contact and to maintain his distance. The episode adds to growing scrutiny over the conduct of security personnel towards elected representatives at official state functions.

Senior Congress MLA Also Stopped

In a separate incident during the same event, SP Rishyanth reportedly prevented senior Congress MLA Tanveer Sait from reaching the puja venue. Chief Minister Shivakumar again personally intervened, escorting Sait to the site to participate. Other local MLAs and MLCs were reportedly made to watch the ritual from a distance, having been denied entry altogether.

Questions on Protocol and Accountability

The episode has ignited debate on multiple fronts: the treatment of leaders from Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes at one of Karnataka's most prominent cultural events; the conduct of security personnel towards elected representatives; and whether existing protocol for ministerial access to religious ceremonies was followed or overridden without authorisation. Mysuru Dasara, one of southern India's grandest state-sponsored festivals, draws national attention every year, making the optics of this incident particularly significant for the ruling Congress government in Karnataka.

With Dalit organisations demanding accountability and questions swirling over the SP's chain of command, the Karnataka government is expected to face pressure for a formal explanation in the days ahead.