Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari continued to face flak from the opposition parties for his comment that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has become an old idol now. The leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that time has come for the Prime Minister to take serious notice of the Governor's unnecessary, incomprehensible, reprehensible statements.
‘’Despite being the governor of Maharashtra for more than three years, if he does not understand Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the spirit of Maharashtra and the people of Maharashtra, then it is time for him (Governor) to seriously consider to continue him on his post,’’claimed Pawar.
‘’Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the adorable deity of Maharashtra, is the best ideal king of all time in the world. He created an ideal of how royal power can be used not for luxury but for public welfare,’’said Pawar He further added that ‘’Considering Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a role model, Maharashtra has always progressed and will continue to progress.’’ He prayed that the Governor would get the wisdom.
Ambadas Danve, was arrested by police for protesting
The Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, who led the protest to condemn the Governor’s comment and was later arrested by the police, questioned why BJP is silent on this issue.
"Why the Mindhe Sarkar (Shinde Fadnavis government) is not hitting the streets to stage a protest against the Governor for making insulting comments against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? Why BJP is not snubbing the Governor?’’he asked.
‘’Insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Savtiribai Phule and tarnishing Maharashtra’s image is BJP’s agenda,’’he alleged.
Is the Governor making such statements to please the Centre
‘’If the Governor is making such statements to please the Delhi leadership then such a tendency needs to be crushed. The people of Maharashtra will not sit quiet till they send back the Governor,’’ noted Danve.
Calling Koshyari's remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj an 'insult' of the state and the Maratha ruler, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MP Sanjay Raut asked the BJP, which is protesting against Rahul Gandhi's remarks against Veer Savarkarshould now protest against the Raj Bhavan.
"His statement is an insult to Maharashtra and Shivaji Maharaj. BJP is carrying out protests against Rahul Gandhi's remarks against Veer Savarkar. They are hitting out with shoes. Now the shoes should go to the Raj Bhavan from where remarks are being made against Shivaji Maharaj. Then you are the son of Maharashtra, otherwise, you are fake," Raut said.
Why Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is keeping mum on this issue
He also questioned why Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is sharing power with BJP, is keeping mum on this issue.
Meanwhile, NCP leader and former minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, ‘’If something like this had happened in other states, the entire state would have gone up in flames. Governor is respected in the state. He should make a statement with the responsibility.’’
‘’I don't know why the Governor is making such statements. "If Shivaji Maharaj is old, why does Modi have to put his image on the hoarding and write 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Chhatrapatiancha Ashirwad'?" (Blessings of Chhatrapati Shivaji) asked Bhujbal.
BJP Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar came to the Governor’s defence saying that he did not use the ‘’outdated’’ for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
