Farm activist and Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari has on Tuesday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind to sack Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari after the latter took a jibe at Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in a curt letter.
Questioning Uddhav regarding the reopening of temples in the state, Koshyari mocked the CM and asked if he had "suddenly turned secular". He wrote, "I wonder if you are receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of the places of worships time and again or have you suddenly turned 'secular' yourself, the term you hated?"
"It is ironic that while on one hand, the State government has permitted the opening of bars, restaurants and beaches, on the other hand, our Gods and Goddesses have been condemned to stay in the lockdown," Koshyari added in his letter.
Meanwhile, demanding Koshyari's removal, Tiwari tweeted, "#PresidentKovind and #NarendraModi shd sack Maharashtra #GovKoshyari who has insulted #CMOMaharashtra and involved in mudslinging at time of pandemic and malign the office of #Governor and running BJP agenda (sic)."
"Guv Koshyari seems to have ample of time to meet #KanganaRanaut, #SonuSood and likes but seems to not have time to pay attention to distressed farmers. Evidently acting as a puppet for BJP govt to malign Maha Guv and Shiv Sena (sic)," he added.
Moreover, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also slammed BS Koshyari. He said the Maharashtra Government is "taking decisions keeping the serious COVID-19 situation in mind" and "following the true meaning of the word secularism as mentioned in the Constitution". "So, Governor's letter proves that he's not willing to follow India's constitution," Raut added.
Besides, Koshyari's letter invited a biting response from the Chief Minister. Responding to the letter, Uddhav said he does not need a “certificate” on Hindutva from the Governor. "As imposing lockdown all of a sudden was not right, revoking it completely at once will also be not a good thing. And yes, I am someone who follows Hindutva, my Hindutva doesn't need verification from you," Uddhav said. "My Hindutva does not permit me to welcome home a person who called my Maharashtra or Mumbai Pakistan occupied Kashmir," he added.
