Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction) also Demands Maharashtra Governor’s Recall for Insulting Shivaji

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Nov 21: Even as Rahul Gandhi succeeded to some extent in dousing the fire he ignited within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance partners in Maharashtra caused by his criticism of Veer Savarkar, differences has cropped up between the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the BJP in the ruling coalition over the governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s unpleasant remarks on the Marathi ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji.

After three days of silence from Shinde Sena, an MLA from Maharashtra’s ruling Sena faction spoke up on Monday against Koshyari demanding that he be “immediately shipped out of Maharashtra,” a demand akin to what the opposition MVA coalition wanted the BJP government at the centre to do. In an unambiguous message to the BJP, the MLA Sanjay Gaikwad raise the demand heaping embarrassment on the ruling ally which has been caught in the political firestorm over Mr Koshyari’s remark.

“The Governor should understand that the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj never age and he cannot be compared to any other great person in the world,” Sanjay Gaikwad said. “I request all the central leaders of BJP that a Governor who does not know the history of this place or how it functions — there will be no benefit in keeping such a person… That’s why it is our demand that a person from the Marathi soil be made the Governor. Send Koshyari wherever you want,” said the MLA, who represents the Buldhana Assembly constituency.

He even made it clear that this issue, if not addressed, might become the nucleus of a rift between the ruling allies. “Central seniors should take note that due to governor, differences will be created between the two parties,” read a rough translation of his tweet in Marathi.

Koshyari had, on Saturday, said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an icon of “olden days” and referred to Babasaheb Ambedkar and Union minister Nitin Gadkari while talking about “icons” in the state, drawing criticism from the NCP and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction. The governor made the remarks after conferring D.Litt degrees on senior BJP leader Gadkari and NCP president Sharad Pawar at an event held in Aurangabad.

Deputy chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had made some feeble attempts to protect the governor, a BJP leader till he was given the gubernatorial post, claiming that Koshyari did not mean anything ill about the Maratha warrior king. “Till the Sun and Moon are there, Maharashtra’s icon will always be Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and he is our hero. There is no doubt in anybody’s heart, even that of the governor, regarding Shivaji Maharaj as an ideal. Many meanings were derived from his statements. There cannot be any role model for Maharashtra and the country other than Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Even the governor is of the view that we hold,” Fadnavis had said.

But that did not give the desired result. While other BJP leaders maintained silence over the issue, Nitin Gadkari, who was named as one of the “modern day idols” by Koshyari showed his disagreement with the governor. “We revere Shivaji more than our parents,” Gadkari said on Monday.

Chhatrapati Shivaji, the 17th Century Maratha ruler, is an emotive issue in Maharashtra and Mr Koshyari’s remark — that he is “an icon of olden days” — has incensed many. The Congress, Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress party and the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, have been up in arms against it. Team Thackeray has been particularly vocal, taking repeated digs at the Team Shinde, which toppled Mr Thackeray’s government earlier this year with the backing of the BJP.

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna asked the BJP — which has been protesting against Congress’s Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Veer Savarkar — to spell out its stand on the Governor’s remarks. “Just like Rahul Gandhi, Governor’s statement also cannot be called his ‘personal opinion’. People of Maharashtra also have a ‘personal opinion’ that whoever insults Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will have to apologize in front of the state,” the editorial said.

Key Uddhav Thackeray aide Sanjay Raut claimed the Governor has insulted Shivaji 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,” he added.

Raut who had earlier had threatened a possible rupture in the MVA alliance for Rahul Gandhi labelling Veer Savarkar “a coward and British government’s agent” on Monday highly appreciated the Congress leader’s gesture in calling him up and inquiring about his health after his release from the jail last week following over 100 days of detention in an alleged money laundering case.

Raut on Monday said he received a call from Rahul Gandhi who enquired about his health, and said such gestures were becoming rare in times of “political bitterness.” He said Gandhi’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra,” a mass contact initiative underway from September 7, was getting a massive response because he was “focussing on love and compassion.” The Rajya Sabha member’s praise for Mr. Gandhi comes at the time when the latter has been facing flak for his remarks on freedom fighter V D Savarkar.

Mr. Raut, who was recently granted bail in a money laundering case, in a tweet on Monday said, “In spite of strong differences of opinion on some issues, inquiring on your political colleague is a sign of humanity! During his busy schedule of Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhiji called yesterday to inquire about my health. ‘We were worried for you he said (sic).” “I appreciate his empathy of feeling the pain of a political colleague who spent 110 days in jail. In times of political bitterness, such gestures are becoming rare. Rahulji is focusing on love & compassion in his yatra and hence it is getting massive response,” he added.