Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded an apology from Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari over his remarks on Mumbai, and said the time has come to decide whether he should be sent back home or jailed.
Mr Thackeray also accused the governor of “polarizing peacefully living Hindus” in Mumbai and Thane.
Speaking during an event in Mumbai on Friday evening, Mr. Koshyari had said that there would be no money left in Mumbai and that it would no longer be the financial capital of the country if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis were not in the city.
As his remarks kicked off a row, the governor on Saturday said his comments were misunderstood and added that he had “no intention to undermine the hard work of the Marathi-speaking people”.
Addressing a press conference at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in Mumbai, Mr. Thackeray said, “The hatred that the Governor has against the Marathi people has come to the fore inadvertently.” He demanded that the governor apologize to the Marathi people.
He said, “It is time to decide whether Koshyari should be sent back home or jail… In the last three years, he has insulted Marathi speaking people despite living in Maharashtra. Now with these comments, he has the post of governor has been insulted.” Mr Thackeray alleged.
The former Maharashtra chief minister said that while he was fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and people were dying, the governor wanted places or religious worship to be reopened.
Koshyari did not approve 12 names from the governor’s quota for the Maharashtra Legislative Council. He also made derogatory remarks against social reformer Savitribai Phule,” Mr Thackeray alleged.
Here’s a look on Governor’s “Gujaratis” Remark
During a speech yesterday, the Governor of Maharashtra said, “If Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, there will be no money left here,” adding that Mumbai will no longer be the financial capital of the country. .
Following the opposition’s protest, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said it was the governor’s personal remarks and he did not support him.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray hit out at Mr Koshyari, accusing the governor of “dividing Hindus”. Seeking an apology, he said the remark was an insult to ‘Marathi Manoos’ (Marathi speaking son of Marathi) and Marathi pride.
“The government should decide whether to send him back home or jail,” Mr Thackeray resented.
Thackeray further said, “The Governor is the messenger of the President, he obeys the President throughout the country. But if he makes the same mistakes then who will take action against him? He has insulted the Marathis and their pride.”
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut today condemned the remarks, saying the governor has insulted the hardworking Marathi people. Raut tweeted in Marathi, “The Marathi person is being insulted soon after the BJP-sponsored CM came to power.”
Addressing a press conference at his residence ‘Matoshree’, Mr Thackeray said, “The hatred that the Governor has against the Marathi people has come to the fore inadvertently.” He demanded that the governor apologize to the Marathi people.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Sachin Sawant also tweeted the video and said that the governor should not have commented.
The governor made this statement after the naming ceremony of a chowk in Andheri, a western suburb of Mumbai.
A release issued by the Raj Bhavan said Mr Koshyari lauded the contribution of the Rajasthani-Marwari and Gujarati communities in making Mumbai the financial capital of the country.
