Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, known for his no-nonsense style of communication, took a dig at Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, saying that some people holding high posts were making unnecessary remarks and this was not acceptable to the people of the state. Incidentally, Koshyari too was present at the function held on the MIT College ground in Pune.
Koshyari has been under attack by the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi for his recent statement that Samarth Ramdas was the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. There was also the controversy that arose after Koshyari was captured on video mocking the child marriage of social activists Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule.
Pawar said, “I want to bring something to the Prime Minister’s notice. Of late, some people holding important positions are making unnecessary comments which are not acceptable to Maharashtra and its citizens.”
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his mother Rajmata Jijau established Swarajya. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule (both social reformers from Maharashtra) laid the foundation for women’s education. We need to carry forward their legacy without holding grudges against anyone and without bringing politics into development,” he said.
Even as the MVA leaders have assailed Koshyari’s statements, it was Ajit Pawar who took the opportunity to drive home the point about gubernatorial impropriety in Modi’s presence.
Koshyari had recently said, “Many ‘chakravartis’ (emperors) and maharajas have taken birth in this land. But who would have asked about Chandragupta had there been no Chanakya? Who would have asked about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had there been no Samarth (Ramdas)?”
“I am not questioning the calibre of Chandragupta and Shivaji Maharaj. Like a mother who plays a key role in shaping her child, similarly, the role of the guru (teacher) has a big place in our society,” the Governor had said.
His statement caused an outcry among ruling and opposition party leaders. The Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress staged protests while the Congress is mulling a resolution proposing that the governor be recalled.
Last week, on March 3, Koshyari left the Vidhan Bhavan abruptly, without completing his address to the joint session of the state legislature because of sloganeering by the MVA as well as the BJP on the opening day of the budget session.
The rift between the governor and the MVA has been widening over the years. The MVA partners have criticized the governor for not having cleared the nomination of 12 members to the state council despite repeated reminders. On his part, the governor has expressed displeasure over the language used by the state government while seeking his approval on holding the election for the Speaker’s post during the winter session in December last year. The government postponed the election after the governor opined that the amendments to the rules proposing the Speaker’s election through voice vote and not through secret ballot was unconstitutional.
