Highlights
- Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari's remark on Mumbai drew flak from Sanjay Raut.
- Raut urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to seek Koshiyari's resignation.
- Raut shared a clip of Koshiyari's speech and slammed him for "insulting Marathi people."
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari's remark on Mumbai drew flak from Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday, who went on to appeal to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to seek Koshiyari's resignation.
During an address at a program in Mumbai's Andheri on Friday, Koshiyari seemed to suggest that Mumbai won't be called financial capital if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are not a part of the city. Raut shared a clip of Koshiyari's speech and slammed him for "insulting Marathi people."
"I tell people here that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, you will have no money and Mumbai will not be a financial capital." He made the statement after the naming ceremony of a chowk in Andheri, a western suburb of Mumbai.
"In short, Maharashtra and Marathi people are beggars.. Even Morarji Desai did not insult 105 Marathi martyrs like this.. Chief Minister Shinde...are you listening? That your Maharashtra is different.. If you have a shred of self-respect, first ask for the governor's resignation.." Raut wrote on Twitter.
"Wake up Marathi wake up... The BJP Governor has revealed why he broke the Shiv Sena and brought the government into a bubble," Raut added. As per reports, Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirma Sena (MNS) also demanded Koshiyari's statement to be withdrawn.
Congress also criticized the governor over his statement and demanded an apology from him. State Congress spokesman Atul Londhe slammed the governor over his remarks, saying that they smack of his hatred for the state. He also demanded an apology from the governor.
Meanwhile, adding fuel to fire, Nihar Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, on Friday met Eknath Shinde and extended his support to the latter.
Nihar Thackeray is the son of late Bindumadhav Thackeray, the eldest son of Sena founder Bal Thackeray. A statement from Shinde's office released after the meeting said Nihar Thackeray will start his political journey under the CM's leadership.
Last month, Shinde led a revolt in the Shiv Sena and walked away with nearly 40 party MLAs. On June 30, he took oath as chief minister with support of the BJP.
