Updated: October 15, 2020 2:15:04 pm
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Uddhav Thackeray (Express File).
Pointing to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena said Koshyari should be removed if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Interior Minister Amit Shah wish to preserve the “prestige “by Raj Bhavan.
In a stinging editorial in Saamana, the party’s official spokesman, Sena claimed that using the governor’s office to attack the state government has proven costly for the BJP in Maharashtra.
In an official letter demanding the immediate reopening of places of worship, Koshyari had asked Uddhav if it has become “secular”. Koshyari sent the letter on Monday. Thackeray responded Tuesday saying he did not need his Koshyari-certified Hindutva credentials.
Saamana’s editorial justified the prime minister’s response to Koshyari’s letter. “Even the gods must be ringing the temple bells happily,” it said. “If the sound of the bells has reached Modi and Shah, then they will call the governor to preserve the prestige of Raj Bhavan.”
Editorial | Governor Koshyari needs to be reminded of the document he promised to keep when he was sworn in.
The letter from the Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari to CM Uddhav Thackeray. (AND ME)
Restaurants have opened with a strict COVID-19 security protocol, but reopening temples will be overcrowded, he said. If the BJP wants the temples to reopen, then there should be a national policy, he said. Several important temples in the country are closed, he added.
Koshyari’s letter drew criticism from ruling allies Congress and the PNC also. While PNC leader Sharad Pawar wrote a strong letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing “shock and surprise” at the “intemperate language” used by Rajasthan Governor, Congress Leader and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, said that the governor has lowered the dignity of high constitutional officials. office and asked the Center to make it known.
The CPM demanded the removal of the governor, saying that he has crossed all the limits of constitutional property, making fun of secularism, one of the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
??????? ??????????, ??????????? ????? ????????? ????? ????? ??. ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ???. pic.twitter.com/8duuQl45tV
– Uddhav Thackeray Office (@OfficeofUT) October 13, 2020
In his letter on Monday, Koshyari told Thackeray that it is “ironic that while on the one hand the state government allowed the opening of bars, restaurants and beaches, our gods and goddesses have been condemned to remain locked up.” Koshyari mentioned that he has received three representations from delegations demanding the reopening of places of religious worship. In response, Thackeray pointed to the “coincidence” that the three letters Koshyari mentioned were from officials and supporters of the BJP.
(With PTI inputs)
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and keep up to date with the latest headlines
For the latest news about India, download the Indian Express app.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
.
