MUMBAI: In a sharp escalation of tensions, Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday he wrote a letter loaded with sarcasm to CM Uddhav Thackeray said it was “ironic” that shrines were still closed while bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen in the state and asked if Uddhav, “a great devotee of Hindutva,” had “suddenly become secular.” Uddhav responded within hours to say that he did not need a Hindutva certificate from Koshyari and, in an indirect reference to the actor Kangana RanautHe added that “giving a touching welcome to a person who described Mumbai as PoK does not fit my definition of Hindutva,” reports Prafulla Marpakwar.
Koshyari’s letter requesting Thackeray to “immediately announce the reopening of all places of worship” came one day when Bjp launched a statewide agitation to push for the same thing. Koshyari said, “I wonder if you are getting some divine premonition to keep procrastinating … or have you suddenly become secular …”
Thackeray replied, “Do you feel that simply opening temples means Hindutva and not opening means secular? As governor, you took the oath and kept secrecy according to the Constitution, which is based on secularism. Do you agree with that secularism?
The governor asked Thackeray to immediately announce the reopening of all places of worship with all necessary Covid-19 precautions. “You have been a great devotee of Hindutva, you have publicly embraced your devotion to Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking over as CM, you had visited the Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Pandharpur and performed the puja at Ashadhi Ekadishi,” Koshyari said.
Thackeray, in his written response, stated that the governor had correctly referred to his Hindutva, but that he did not need a Hindutva certificate from the governor, nor was he obliged to learn it from anyone. “My definition of Hindutva is very clear. Neither my state nor the state capital will give an enthusiastic welcome to a person who described Mumbai as PoK. It doesn’t fit my Hindutva, ”Thackeray observed.
Koshyari in his letter asked if the CM was “receiving some divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of places of worship over and over again or if they suddenly became secular, the term they hated.” Thackeray reacted to this by saying, “Why did this question occur to you? Do you feel that simply opening temples means Hindutva and not opening means secular? As governor, he was sworn in and kept secrecy according to the provisions of the Constitution, which is based on secularism. Do you agree with that secularism? ”
Thackeray added: “The governor must have a personal experience of divine premonition. I have no idea, I’m not that big. I am studying what is happening in other states and trying to implement what is best for Maharashtra. ”
In his letter, Kosyari pointed out that while, on the one hand, the state government had allowed the reopening of bars, restaurants and beaches, on the other, “the gods and goddesses have been condemned to remain locked up.” “During the past three months, various delegations have met with me on this issue, demanding the reopening of places of worship. These delegations were from NGOs, political parties and religious leaders, ”he said.
Koshyari said that despite the CM’s promise, the ban on places of worship was being extended over and over again. “His words had raised a lot of hope in the minds of people tired of the long period of confinement,” he wrote.
Thackeray pointed out that it was a coincidence that the three memos attached to the governor’s letter were from the BJP. “It seems to be a coincidence. My government has taken your letter very seriously and a decision will be made as soon as possible after taking due precautions, “he said.
NCP spokesman and state skills development minister Nawab Malik alleged that Koshyari was indulging in petty politics. “Raj Bhavan has become a center for political activities. Let the CM do its job. He is handling the situation in the field as the political head of the state and will make a decision about the places of worship at the appropriate time, ”Malik said. A congressional leader alleged that Koshyari was pushing the BJP agenda.
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