MUMBAI: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray have engaged in a war of words over reopening of temples, with the governor questioning Thackeray's commitment to Hindutva and the CM hitting back that he needed "no certificate".
It started with Koshyari, on Monday, writing a scathing letter to the Chief Minister questioning why temples were still shut in the state while other activities like ‘bars and restaurants’ were allowed. "Our gods and goddesses have been condemned to stay under lockdown," he said in his letter.
The Governor reminded Thackeray that the latter has been a strong votary of Hindutva, saying, “ You had publicly espoused your devotion for Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as the chief Minister. You had visited the Vithhal Rukmini Mandi in Pandharpur and performed the puja on Ashadi Ekadashi."
The Governor then went on to ask whether Thackeray had abandoned his Hindutva and adopted ‘secularism’.
“ I wonder whether you have receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of the places of worship time and again or have you suddenly turned ‘secular’ yourselves, the term you hated?,” Koshyari wrote.
The Governor wrote that the places of worship were reopened in Delhi on June 8 and in other places across the country on June 3.
Thackeray wrote back on Tuesday an even scathing letter saying that the state’s primary duty is to look after the citizen’s health and welfare and opening up abruptly would not be in the best interests of the people.
The CM said he did not need a certificate of Hindutva from the Governor, and slammed him saying, “ Welcoming a person in my home who has described the capital of my state as PoK does not fall under my definition of Hindutva," the reference being to the visit of actor Kangana Ranaut.
Reminding Koshyari that the oath he took as governor of the state was on the Constitution, Thackeray asked: “ Do you not accept secularism that is an important part of the Constitution."
The governor had attached three representation for opening temples immedaiately in the state, but Thackeray mockingly pointed it was a "coincidence" that they were "all from the BJP". The CM however said he would look into the issue and take a decision soon.
It started with Koshyari, on Monday, writing a scathing letter to the Chief Minister questioning why temples were still shut in the state while other activities like ‘bars and restaurants’ were allowed. "Our gods and goddesses have been condemned to stay under lockdown," he said in his letter.
The Governor reminded Thackeray that the latter has been a strong votary of Hindutva, saying, “ You had publicly espoused your devotion for Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as the chief Minister. You had visited the Vithhal Rukmini Mandi in Pandharpur and performed the puja on Ashadi Ekadashi."
The Governor then went on to ask whether Thackeray had abandoned his Hindutva and adopted ‘secularism’.
“ I wonder whether you have receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of the places of worship time and again or have you suddenly turned ‘secular’ yourselves, the term you hated?,” Koshyari wrote.
The Governor wrote that the places of worship were reopened in Delhi on June 8 and in other places across the country on June 3.
Thackeray wrote back on Tuesday an even scathing letter saying that the state’s primary duty is to look after the citizen’s health and welfare and opening up abruptly would not be in the best interests of the people.
The CM said he did not need a certificate of Hindutva from the Governor, and slammed him saying, “ Welcoming a person in my home who has described the capital of my state as PoK does not fall under my definition of Hindutva," the reference being to the visit of actor Kangana Ranaut.
Reminding Koshyari that the oath he took as governor of the state was on the Constitution, Thackeray asked: “ Do you not accept secularism that is an important part of the Constitution."
The governor had attached three representation for opening temples immedaiately in the state, but Thackeray mockingly pointed it was a "coincidence" that they were "all from the BJP". The CM however said he would look into the issue and take a decision soon.
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