‘Mumbai won’t be financial capital if Gujaratis, Rajasthanis are not here’: Maharashtra’s 80-year-old Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s remark on a public platform created a huge uproar. People and politicians of all hues have slammed the remark and brought Raj Thackeray of MNS, Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Leader of the breakaway Siv Sena group Eknath Shinde, all criticising the governor in the strongest terms, simultaneously.
While addressing a gathering in Mumbai’s Andheri on Friday, Koshyari said, “… if Gujarati and Rajasthani people are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, there would be no money left here. You call Mumbai the financial capital, but if these (Gujarati and Rajasthani) people are not here, then it won’t be called financial capital.”
Curt as he is ever, Raj Thackeray warned ” Don’t annoy Marathi manus” and Uddhav Thackeray wanted to send this ‘parcel’ should be sent back to Delhi. He also said it is time to show “Kolhapuri Chappal” to Koshyari. NCP’s Supriya Sule NCPalso echoed the sentiment by saying “Enough. Time to send the Governor back to his home state Uttarakhand.”
Maharashtra CM Shinde also reacted to the Governor’s statement and said he does not agree with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s remarks regarding Mumbai.
The BJP too distanced itself quickly from Koshyari’s comments. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said “The BJP does not endorse the Governor’s statement.”
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut condemned the remarks and said the Marathi man is getting insulted as soon as the BJP-sponsored Chief Minister came to power, referring to the acrimonious transfer of power, that recently taken place in Maharashtra.
The governor, of course, has said that his statements were misconstrued. Cornered Governor said, “I had no intention to look down upon Marathi people. It is the Marathi population which has developed Maharashtra to its present position… there is no question of demeaning Marathi people.”
The governor, prone to such gaffes has been at the receiving end of a backlash even earlier too when he relishingly talked innuendo about the 10-year-old Savitri Devi Phule married to 13-year-old Jyotiba Phule in a most disgusting and insensitive manner.
