Mumbai: In an unprecedented development, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray engaged in an ugly ‘letter war' over the issue of reopening of temples in the State.
Making a case for permitting people to worship in temples -- closed since the imposition of lockdown on March 23 -- the Governor asked a pointed question to Thackeray: "You have been a strong votary of Hindutva… Have you turned ‘secular' yourself, the term which you hated?"
Koshyari pointed out how Thackeray had 'publicly espoused' his devotion for Lord Ram by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as the Chief Minister and later performed the pooja at the famed Pandharpur's Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini Temple on Ashadhi Ekadashi on July 1.
However, the war of words between Koshyari and Maharashtra Chief Minister is not new. There have been many face-offs between the two leaders.
A presidential rule was imposed following a delay in the finalisation of Chief Minister after the Assembly elections. On November 23 early morning, former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took the oath of office with NCP leader Ajit Pawar. However, the government had collapsed within three days after they failed to prove majority. It is alleged that the incident took place with the 'blessing' of the governor.
July 25, 2020: Rajya Sabha swearing-in targets Udayan Raje
After the outburst in Maharashtra over the swearing-in of Rajya Sabha member Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Bhosale, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari intervened in the matter. Governor Koshyari wrote to the vice president M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, requesting to issue an advisory to MPs and members of State legislatures on fulfilling oath-taking ceremony diligently. He noted in the letter that some members of parliament and state legislatures are not following the prescribed format during the oath-taking session.
September 13, 2020: Kangana Ranaut met Koshyari
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari invited Chief Minister's Adviser Ajoy Mehta to submit a report on the Kangana Ranaut's case. After arriving in Mumbai, Kangana met the Governor on September 13. Upon her arrival in Mumbai, actress Kangana Ranaut shared a video of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on social media. After this, the debate between Sena and Kangana began. The governor has expressed displeasure after actress Kangana Ranaut's office was demolished with a one-day notice. Adviser to the Chief Minister's Office Ajoy Mehta was summoned by the Governor to Raj Bhavan.
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