Governor Koshyari made the remarks after awarding the D.Litt degree to Mr. Gadkari.
Mumbai:
Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari on Saturday said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a symbol of the “old days” even as he referred to BR Ambedkar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari when talking about “icons” in the state, prompting the NCP to criticize.
Governor Koshyari made the remarks after awarding a D.Litt degree to Mr. Gadkari, a senior leader of the BJP, and National Congress Party (NCP) Chairman Sharad Pawar at an event held in Aurangabad.
”In the past, when you were asked who your icon was – Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi each answered. In Maharashtra you don’t have to look anywhere else (because) there are many symbols here. While Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been around for ages, there are BR Ambedkar and Nitin Gadkari,” the governor said.
मह र यर य य pic.twitter.com/QcvDx7WW7C
– NCP (@NCPspeaks) November 19, 2022
Reacting to the governor’s remarks, the party led by Sharad Pawar accused him of demeaning Maharashtra.
Governor Koshyari has also equated Union minister Nitin Gadkari with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, party chief spokesman Clyde Crasto said.
“The President of India has to think seriously about changing this person (Governor Koshyari) who holds a constitutional position who constantly makes controversial statements. BJP has always been silent about statements. His demeaning hurts the sentiments of the Maharashtrian people,” Mr Crasto said.
Earlier this year, the governor controversially questioned who would ask about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj without his guru Samarth (Ramdas).
He has also faced criticism for his remarks that Mumbai would have no money if the Gujaratis and Rajasthanis left the city. He later apologized.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from an aggregated feed.)
