Koshyari Comes to Rahul Gandhi’s Aid, Sparks Controversy Calling Shivaji an “Old Icon”
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 20: From Veer Savarkar to Shivaji Maharaj. The Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has unwittingly come to the rescue of the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was facing flak for his remarks on Savarkar, by himself sparking a new controversy over Shivaji Maharaj calling the revered Marathi ruler “an icon of olden days.”
The opposition parties are up on arms demanding the governor’s recall and even seeking resignation of the chief minister Eknath Shinde for his silence over the “insult” to the Maharashtra iconic leader, while the Nationalist Congress Party, so enraged over the remarks have even announced a reward of Rs one lakh to anyone who can insult the governor in public by tearing off his “dhoti.”
Koshyari’s remarks has provided a big respite for the Congress which was scurrying for cover in the wake of Rahul Gandhi’s attack on Savarkar calling him “coward and British agents” when his “Bharat Jodo Yatra” is passing through Maharashtra with even its alliance partner Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction” threatening to severe all its relations. Overnight the focus has shifted from Rahul Gandhi to Koshyari with the opposition parties gunning for his blood and the ruling coalition of the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) maintaining studied silence. The worst was he almost equated Shivaji Maharaj with the present day union minister Nitin Gadkari as a “modern day icon.”
Koshyari sparked a major political controversy by calling Shivaji Maharaj an icon of “olden days” even as he referred to B R Ambedkar and Nitin Gadkari while talking about “icons” in the state. Addressing a function at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad on Saturday, the Maharashtra Governor had remarked that Shivaji Maharaj has become an “old idol” and the new ones could be found in Babasaheb Ambedkar to Nitin Gadkari.
“If someone asks who your idol is, you don’t have to go out looking for one. You will find them right here in Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has become an old idol now, you can find new ones — from Babasaheb Ambedkar to (Union Minister) Nitin Gadkari,” he had said.
Congress on Sunday demanded that Koshyari be recalled over his comment. Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said 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.
After his comments on Sivaji, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has kept a reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone, who would tear Governor Koshyari’s dhoti. 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,” Patole demanded.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Veer Savarkar, Patole said “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.”
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray’s faction) leader Sanjay Raut too, on Sunday demanded removal of Koshyari over his “old idol” remark on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also said chief minister Eknath Shinde should also resign.
Speaking to the media, Mr Raut asked Mr Shinde if he has the “self-respect” that he had cited while rebelling against Uddhav Thackeray. Slamming the Maharashtra government for keeping “silent” on the issue, Mr Raut said, “The Governor has insulted Shivaji Maharaj four times in one year. Still, the government is silent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah consider Shivaji Maharaj an idol and their national spokesperson said that Shivaji Maharaj apologised to Aurangzeb five times. Is this the BJP’s official stand? BJP should apologise to Maharashtra and remove the Governor right away.”
Accusing the BJP of “insulting” Shivaji Maharaj openly, Mr Raut asked Mr Shinde to step down as the Chief Minister. “I am surprised that the Chief Minister, who gave the slogan of self-respect, broke Shiv Sena and formed the government with the BJP, where has your self-respect gone now? The BJP is openly insulting Shivaji Maharaj. You should resign. If you have any respect for Shivaji Maharaj, why are you in the government with them?” he said.
On Saturday, Mr Raut took a jibe at the BJP and said that his party is protesting against Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against Veer Savarkar, and they should now protest against the Raj Bhavan.
“His statement is an insult to Maharashtra and Shivaji Maharaj. BJP is carrying out protests against Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against Veer Savarkar. They are hitting out with shoes. Now the shoes should go to the Raj Bhavan from where remarks are being made against Shivaji Maharaj. Then, you are the son of Maharashtra, otherwise, you are fake,” Mr Raut said.
The remark on the Maratha ruler did not go down well with political leaders. A spokesperson for the Uddhav Thackeray faction condemned the remark, saying the Governor is known for disrespecting great leaders. “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not only our deity but also our source of inspiration. He will always be the idol for all of us,” Anand Dubey, a spokesman of the Uddhav Thackeray faction had said in a statement.
“Going by the Governor’s statements, even Lord Ram and Lord Krishna have become old idols. Must we find new deities now to worship?” Mr Dubey asked, adding that the Governor’s statement should be strongly condemned.
