Uddhav Thackeray, a former chief minister of Maharashtra and leader of a Shiv Sena faction, called on the state’s political parties to unite in opposition to B S Koshyari on Thursday in response to the governor’s recent comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
He also issued a warning that his party may prepare a state-wide bandh if no action is made on the demand in the coming days.
Last week, Koshyari claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a symbol of “olden days” during a gathering in Aurangabad.
When addressing journalists in Mumbai, Thackeray stated: “Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the governor of Maharashtra, frequently disparages state figures. I make an appeal to citizens of all political stripes to band together against the governor and put pressure on the Union government to recall him.”
“I’m going to wait three to five days. I will get in touch with all the state’s political parties at that time to organise a coalition against him. I’m considering organising a calm state-wide bandh to protest Koshyari “Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena, stated.
After Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), criticised Koshyari for his comments, saying the governor had gone too far, Thackeray made his comments.
Terming Koshyari an “Amazon parcel” sent by the Union government, Thackeray said, “We do not want this parcel here in Maharashtra. Since we do not want it, you (Centre) should take it back.”
It is assumed that when a party forms a government in the country, it appoints governors of its own choice in states. However, they (governors) are expected to be politically neutral, he said.
“In the past, Koshyari had passed insulting remarks against social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, about Marathi people living in Mumbai and Thane and the latest controversial comment he made was about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Does it mean that Koshyari reflects the Union government’s feelings about these icons? Has the governor’s post become like an old age home?” he asked.
It is time to demonstrate our strong stand against Koshyari, he added.
