Uddhav Thackeray attempts to revive Sena’s core plank of Marathi pride

Former CM slams Maharashtra governor for saying Mumbai would cease to be India’s financial capital if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis left 

Uddhav Thackeray: File picture

J.P. Yadav   |   TT  |  New Delhi   |    31.07.22  : Shiv Sena head and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday tore into Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, accusing him of “insulting the Marathi manoos” by saying Mumbai would cease to be India’s financial capital if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis left.

Uddhav told reporters the governor was “dividing Hindus” and “insulting the Marathi manoos (people) and their pride”, seeking to revive the Sena’s core plank of Marathi pride to take on the BJP.

“The hatred for Marathis has inadvertently come out.... I don’t know who writes his (the governor’s) speeches, whether it comes from Delhi or somewhere else,” said Uddhav, recently unseated as chief minister by a Sena revolt led by Eknath Shinde and widely believed to have been engineered by the BJP.

Koshiyari has been quoted as saying at an event in Mumbai on Friday evening: “If Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, no money would be left here. Mumbai will not be able to remain the financial capital.”

Later, a release from the governor sought to clarify that he had only praised the contribution of the Rajasthani-Marwari and Gujarati communities towards Mumbai becoming the country’s financial capital.

Koshiyari, known for his association with the RSS, had been a key BJP leader in Uttarakhand before he was appointed governor. He still wears the trademark inverted-boat black cap of the RSS.

Uddhav has seized upon Koshiyari’s comment at a time he is locked in a legal battle with the BJP-backed faction of Shinde, the current chief minister, to retain control over the Sena and its bow-and-arrow symbol. With most Sena MLAs and MPs having joined the rebel camp, the Shinde group has claimed that it is the “real Sena”.

Uddhav sought an apology from the governor and threatened legal action against him.

“The government should decide whether to send him back home or to the prison,” he added.

Shinde has distanced himself from the governor’s remarks, aware of the political sensitivities involved.

“We don’t agree with Koshiyari’s view. It’s his personal view. He has now issued a clarification,” the chief minister told reporters.

“He (Koshiyari) occupies a constitutional post and should take care that his actions are not insulting to others.”

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh tweeted a video of Koshiyari’s speech, adding a caustic comment.

“His name is Bhagat Singh Koshiyari but as governor there is not a bit of ‘hoshiyari’ (savvy) in what he says and does,” his tweet said.

Ramesh accused Koshiyari of faithfully obeying “hum do (the two of us)”, an allusion to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.

Uddhav’s party continued to try and milk the governor’s comments.

“Soon after the BJP-sponsored chief minister came to power, the Marathi manoos is getting insulted,” Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said.