Huge row after Maharashtra governor says state will have nothing if Gujaratis, Rajasthanis left

BHAGAT Singh Koshyari, the governor of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, on Friday (29) kicked up a storm by saying if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis were removed from the state, especially the city of Mumbai and Thane, no money would be left in the state and Mumbai would cease to remain the financial capital of India.

Speaking at an event to name an area in Andheri in Mumbai, the 80-year-old Koshyari, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh veteran and a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief minister of the northern state of Uttarakhand, said, “I keep telling people sometimes that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, no money would be left here. Mumbai, which is known as the financial capital of India, would not be able to remain the same."

The words soon faced a backlash, particularly from local outfits such as the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) that are deeply connected with Maharashtrian identity politics.

Shiv Sena parliamentarian Sanjay Raut on Saturday (30) lashed out at Koshyari and urged chief minister Eknath Shinde, who is also a leader of the Sena but formed the government with his faction with the help of the BJP, to condemn the governor's statement.

"The Marathi man gets insulted as soon as a BJP-sponsored chief minister is in power. CM Shinde, at least condemn the Governor. This is an insult to Marathi hard-working people," Raut tweeted.

He also said that the governor, who belongs to the erstwhile United Provinces (current day Uttar Pradesh), implied that the people of Maharashtra are beggars.

"Chief Minister Shinde, are you listening? That your Maharashtra is different. If you have self-respect, then seek the resignation of the governor," Raut said in another tweet.

Former state minister Aditya Thackeray, also from Sena, tweeted in Maharashtrian saying, "In Maharashtra, there is currently no growth in social, educational, industrial and development, but attempts are being made to create controversy. Governor's statement is not only an insult to every citizen of Maharashtra, but also a disrespect to the contributions and sacrifices of many great people born in this soil."

"As much as to condemn this statement... He should publicly apologize for his anti-Maharashtra and anti-Marathi stance."

Sena parliamentarian Priyanka Chaturvedi sought an immediate apology from the governor for his "insult" to the hard-working people of Maharashtra. "This is an insult to the hard work of the people of Maharashtra and Marathi Manoos who have toiled day in and day out to make the state the leading state of the country. The Governor should apologise immediately, failing which, we will demand him to replace him," she wrote in a tweet.

“Are the CM and Deputy CM aka Maharashtra cabinet okay with this? Why are they silent? Oh wait, they have still not agreed with their cabinet ministers," she added.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray slams governor's remark

A reaction from MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who is known for his hard pro-Maharashtra politics, was expected and he did not disappoint.

He slammed the governor in a Marathi note that he shared with the caption 'Do not fool a Marathi manus'.

"If you don't know anything about Maharashtra's history, then don't talk about it," he said.

“The post of the governor is a very respected designation so people will not say anything against this, but your statement has hurt the people of Maharashtra,” Thackeray added.

"Because of the Marathi people in the state, good job opportunities were created. So people from other states migrated here, right? Will they get such an environment anywhere else?” he said, adding, “With the elections around the corner, one should not spread any rumours. Do not assume that we are innocent to believe this. Do not fool 'Marathi manus' - this is all I have to say right now."

State Congress leader Sachin Sawant also tweeted the video of Koshyari's speech and said, “It is terrible that the Governor of a state defames the people of the same state,” he said.

“During his reign, the level of the institution of the Governor and the political tradition of Maharashtra has not only deteriorated, but Maharashtra has also been continuously disrespected,” he added.

Koshyari later issued a clarification, saying his intention was not to hurt the Marathi people's sentiments.

He said his statement was about the contribution that people from Rajasthan and Gujarat make towards the state of Maharashtra.

"Marathi manoos [Marathis] worked hard to establish what Maharashtra is today. So there is no question of demeaning or underestimating them," he said.