Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari apologises over his remarks on Mumbai

Mumbai, August 2: Amid allegations uproar over his controversial comment on the people of Mumbai, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has now issued an apology.

 

Earlier, Koshyari made the controversial comments during a function to name a chowk (intersection) in suburban Andheri on Friday evening. "I tell people here that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially from Mumbai and Thane, you will be left with no money and Mumbai will not be a financial capital," he had said.

 

 

"I expect the citizens of this state would forgive a humble servant of this state by abiding with the teachings of several saints. It was an unintentional error from my side. Not just Maharashtra, everyone has played a vital role in the progress of this country. The great tradition of inclusiveness of the states has taken our country to this path of progress," he said.

 

 

Koshyari said he may have committed a mistake while speaking about the contribution of some members of society, during his Andheri speech.

 

When his comments drew widespread condemnation, Koshyari had said that the statement was misconstrued, and asked political parties not to create a controversy. There was no question of belittling the contribution of Marathi-speaking people and "lauding one community does not mean insulting another,'' he had said.

 

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had demanded an apology from Koshyari. The former chief minister, whose relations with Koshyari were often strained while in office, accused the Governor of "dividing" Hindus living in Mumbai and Thane. "The hatred that the Governor harbours in his mind against the Marathi people has inadvertently come out,” Thackeray had said. "Time has come to decide whether to send Koshyari back home or to jail...In the last three years, he has insulted Marathi-speaking people despite staying in Maharashtra. Now with these comments, he has brought disrespect to the Governor's post," the Sena president said.

 

 

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, leader of the rebel Shiv Sena faction, had said he disagreed with Koshyari's remarks. "We don't agree with Koshyari's remarks. It's his personal view. He has now issued a clarification. He occupies a constitutional post and should take care that his actions do not insult others. The Marathi community's hard work has contributed to the development and progress of Mumbai....No one can insult Mumbai and Marathi people," Shinde had said.

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party, too, distanced itself from his remarks, and Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Marathi-speaking people played a major role in the development and growth of Maharashtra. "Even in the industrial sector, Marathi-speaking people have made global strides. We don't agree with the Governor's remarks," Fadnavis had said.