Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday demanded the recall of Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari over his comments referring to Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as an icon of “olden days”.
Mr. Patole also demanded an apology from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming that its leader Sudhanshu Trivedi had made insulting comments against Shivaji Maharaj.
Talking to reporters in Buldhana, Mr. Patole said the Congress will work for an “ideologically clean Maharashtra” and it will not tolerate the insult of social reformers Mahatma Phule, Savitribai Phule and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Governor Koshyari on Saturday said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an icon of “olden days” even as he referred to B. R. Ambedkar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari while talking about “icons” in the State.
Mr. Patole claimed that Koshyari had made disparaging comments against Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule and hit out at the governor for comments on Shivaji Maharaj.
BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi had also made insulting comments against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that the latter apologised to Mughal king Aurangazeb five times, he claimed.
“This will not be tolerated. The BJP has to publicly apologise and the governor has to be recalled,’‘ Mr. Patole demanded.
In light of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi facing flak for his comments on freedom fighter V. D. Savarkar, Mr. Patole said Mr. Gandhi had drawn a comparison between the ideologies of iconic tribal leader Birsa Munda and Savarkar while dealing with the British.
‘‘This is an ideological comparison. Rahul Gandhi did not wish to create a controversy, but the BJP wanted to divert the attention. Rahul Gandhi had even shown documentary evidence of the mercy petition of Savarkar (when he was in jail),’‘ he said.
AICC general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said, ‘‘The day BJP and RSS stop speaking lies about our leaders, we will stop telling the truth about their leaders.”
Koshyari must consider quitting, says Ajit Pawar
Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday said Mr. Koshyari must consider quitting his post if he cannot understand the State’s emotions and the legendary warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
In a statement issued during the day, Mr. Pawar said, “It was time for Mr. Koshyari to reconsider his continuing as State governor.”
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a great role model on how to use power for people’s welfare and not self interest. These ideals have inspired Maharashtra and will continue to do so for time immemorial,” the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly said.
Mr. Pawar also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take cognizance of Mr. Koshyari’s remarks
