Opening of religious places: ‘Don’t need your certificate’, Uddhav to Governor’s ‘have you turned secular’ jibe

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari (Right) and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. (Express archive)

A war of words has broken out between, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after the former sent a letter on Monday demanding the immediate reopening of places of worship and asking if the Shiv Sena chief if he has turned “secular”.  Thackeray replied stating he does not need a certificate for his Hindutva from Koshyari, or any lessons on Hindutva.

Referring to Thackeray’s address Sunday over social media, Koshyari wrote in an unusually worded letter to the Chief Minister terming as “most unfortunate” the extension of the ban on the religious places.

“You have been a strong votary of Hindutva. You had publicly espoused your devotion for Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as the Chief Minister. You had visited the Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Pandharpur and performed the puja on Ashadhi Ekadashi,” wrote Koshyari.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray. (ANI)

“I wonder if you are receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of the places of worships time and again or have you suddenly turned ‘secular’ yourselves, the term you hated?” asked the Governor and further mentioned that places of worships were reopened in Delhi on June 8 and across the nation towards the end of June. There have not been reports of a surge in COVID-19 cases from any of these places, he added.

“I request you to announce forthwith the reopening of all the places of worship with all necessary COVID-19 precautions,” stated Koshyari. The Governor enclosed with his letter three representations for the reopening of places of worship.

On Tuesday, Thackeray hit back at the Governor stating that he does not need a certificate for Hindtuva from Governor. “What you mentioned about my Hindutva in the letter is absolutely correct. But, my Hindutva does not need your certificate. Also, I don’t need to learn it from anyone. It does not fit into my Hindutva to welcome home, with a smile, those who call my state or the capital of my state Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” remarked Thackeray.

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— Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) October 13, 2020

Taking objection to the Governor’s question on whether Thackeray had turned secular, Thackeray asked, “Why should you ask such a question? Are you saying that only opening places of worship is Hindutva and not opening them is secular? Secularism is the core part of the Constitution based on which you took oath as Governor. Don’t you agree with it?”

Thackeray also referred to the Governor mocking him with the taunt about divine premonitions. “You may have experienced such things but I am not so great,” Thackeray hit back.

On Governor forwarding three copies of representation, Thackeray said all three letters are from BJP office bearers and their supporters. “It could be a coincidence. Anyway, the government is seriously considering your request and I assure you that a decision will be taken as soon as possible by taking all due care,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also said that Governor Koshyari should only see whether the state is being run as per the Constitution or not and that there is a people-elected government in place to look after rest of the things.

Shocked by tone of Governor’s letter to CM: Pawar to PM Modi

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar expressed shock over the kind of language used by the Governor. Pawar said he was pained by the “erosion of standards of conduct” by the high Constitutional office of the Honourable Governor.

In his letter, Pawar referred to the huge crowds some temples in the state like that of Siddhivinayak in Mumbai, Sai Baba in Shirdi and others, witness on normal days. “In such places, it is almost impossible to maintain safe distance between people. Keeping this in view, the Government of Maharashtra had decided to stagger the decision regarding opening up of places of worship,” Pawar said.

The NCP patriarch said though the Governor could have independent views and opinions, he was shocked and surprised to see the letter of the Governor released to the media and the kind of language used in the letter. Pawar said he was sure the prime minister would have noticed the “intemperate language” used in the Governors letter.

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