MUMBAI: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s remarks about Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji have created a political turmoil in the state and the issue has become an embarrassment for the BJP.
The Governor is facing flak from the Opposition for his comments that Shivaji is an “icon of olden times, past era and now the state has new icons from BR Ambedkar to Nitin Gadkari”, triggering calls for his removal from office.
Even BJP ally, the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, has joined the chorus for Koshyari’s resignation.
Descendants of King Shivaji, Udayanraje Bhonsale, a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, and Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, have also sought the Governor’s ouster from office. On his part, Koshyari expressed regret for his remarks, saying these were misinterpreted. Reports say he even wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarifying his side and seeking the latter’s advice on the issue.
The entire development has come ahead of the Opposition’s proposed protest against the Maharashtra Government in the third week of December. Koshyari’s alleged insult to Maratha icons is one of the issues that is likely to be highlighted during the protest.
An official, on condition of anonymity, said that Koshyari, in his two-page letter to the Union Home Minister, explained how his remarks were selectively used to criticise him.
“I told the students that some keep Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose (as their icons). In Maharashtra’s context, I said that leaders from Dr BR Ambedkar to Nitin Gadkari can be examples for ideals. This meant that students can keep APJ Abdul Kalam, Homi Bhabha as ideals. Today PM Narendra Modi’s name is held in high esteem for taking the country to new heights,” the letter reportedly said.“Not just Maharashtra, the entire country is proud of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” the letter said.
“I would never hesitate to apologise if I was wrong. I would never even dream of insulting figures like Maharana Pratap, Guru Gobind Singh and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” it concluded.
