Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray greets Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari during a meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on May 1, 2020. (PTI Photo)
Taking a strong objection to his words, Thackeray responded to Koshyari a day later, saying that he does not need Hindutva lessons from anyone. He also criticized Koshyari for entertaining actor Kangana Ranaut.
- News18.com
- Last update: October 13, 2020 2:06 PM IST
- FOLLOW US:
On Tuesday there was a ‘battle of cards’ between Maharashtra Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Governor BS Koshyari over the reopening of religious sites during the ‘unblocking’ process amid the coronavirus. When Koshyari questioned the CM’s “sudden secularism”, Thackeray was quick to respond with the message of “I don’t need any Hindutva lessons from anyone.”
The Governor of Maharashtra had written to Thackeray on Monday reminding him of his devotion to Lord Rama which resulted in CM’s visit to Ayodhya after taking over the state, the trip to Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Pandharpur and puja in Ashadhi Ekadashi Vitthal Rukmini Mandir at Pandharpur and performed the puja at Ashadhi Ekadashi.
Calling Thackeray “a strong Hindutva devotee,” the governor said he wonders if the CM is “getting some divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of places of worship over and over again.” Or have you become ‘secular’ yourself, a term that you hated? “Wrote the governor in his sarcastic letter.
Taking a strong objection to his words, Thackeray replied to Koshyari a day later, saying that he does not need Hindutva lessons from anyone. He also criticized the governor for entertaining actor Kangana Ranaut.
The prime minister further informed Koshyari that a decision will be made on the reopening of places of religious worship after careful consideration of the Covid-19 situation in the state. He added that the state government will consider the governor’s request to reopen these places.
In his letter, Koshyari had mentioned that he had received three representations from delegations demanding the reopening of places of religious worship. In response, Thackeray pointed out that it was a coincidence that the three letters Koshyari mentioned were from officials and supporters of the BJP.
Answering the question about “secularism”, Thackeray wondered if for Koshyari Hindutva meant simply reopening places of religious worship and if not opening them was for him being secular.
“Isn’t secularism a key component of the Constitution, by which you were sworn in while taking the oath as governor of the state,” Thackeray said. “While people’s feelings and beliefs are considered, it is also important to take care of their lives and it is wrong to impose and suddenly lift the lockdown,” he said in the letter.
A veteran of RSS, Koshyari has been vice president of the BJP and the first chairman of that party’s unit in Uttarakhand, where he also served as prime minister.
.
