Guv Koshyari off to Delhi after Shivaji comment

MUMBAI: Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is at centre of controversy over his remarks on Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, is due to make an unscheduled trip to Delhi on Thursday, fueling speculations whether it is connection with the ongoing controversy.

Koshyari’s remarks that King Shivaji was an old idol, has landed him in trouble with opposition parties, as well as three descendants of the Maratha king. The two descendants who are currently with the BJP have sought action against the governor. The opposition parties have demanded his repatriation for “the insult to king Shivaji.”

Chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena too has conveyed its unhappiness over Koshyari’s remarks to the BJP, who have now distanced itself from his comments.

Koshyari will be leaving for Delhi on November 24 and will return the next day — November 25. There is no confirmation from Raj Bhavan about who he will be meeting during the trip. However, it is being speculated that Koshyari will hold a meeting with the union home minister Amit Shah.

At a convocation ceremony in Aurangabad on Saturday, Koshyari referred to Shivaji as a “hero of the past era” while hailing Dr BR Ambedkar and union minister Nitin Gadkari as “present heroes”.

The ruling Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and BJP are facing heat over governor’s remarks on Shivaji.

Meanwhile, leader of opposition Ajit Pawar claimed that Koshyari doesn’t want to stay in Maharashtra and has expressed his will before the central government. He also questioned if this is the reason the governor is making objectionable comments repeatedly.