During the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, Morarji Desai as Chief Minister of Bombay state ordered police firing on demonstrators at Flora Fountain, in which 105 people were killed. When Maharashtra was created, Flora Fountain was renamed Hutatma Chowk.
Writes Madhukeshwar Desai: "What was confused for being adamant was his deep-rooted belief in what was right and wrong. Bapuji stuck by his core principles that grew from his struggles through life from a young age, his inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, and his devotion to God. He knew the Bhagavat Gita verbatim and always turned to it when in doubt.
"Reputed journalist Karan Thapar once wrote that Morarji Desai was the most hated man in Doon School when he came visiting in 1968 because he insisted on delivering his speech in Hindi and criticised the boys for shaking his hand instead of the greeting him with a ‘Namaste'.
