As Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari drew severe flak from various political parties for wrongly describing Swami Samarth Ramdas as the ‘Guru’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the State Congress on Monday demanded an apology from the Governor for “insulting” the Maratha warrior and the people of the State.
A day after the Governor referred Swami Samarth Ramdas as the ‘Guru’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj while speaking at a programme at Aurangabad on Sunday, Rajya Sabha MP Udayanraje Bhosale of Satara who is a direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, slammed the Governor “for his lack of knowledge and history”, while State Congress chief Nana Patole said that after his slur against the Maratha warrior, Koshyari had lost moral right to continue to continue as the Governor.
In his speech at Aurangabad, the Governor had, while stressing on the significant role played by “Gurus” in the lives of leaders, recalled that the great political strategist Chanakya had a big influence on the life of the legendary Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, the founder-ruler of one of the biggest empires in the sub-continent, and had said: “Had there not been Samarth (Ramdas), there would have not been Chhatrapati (Shivaji)”.
Hitting out at the Governor for his slur against Shivaji, Patole said:“The Governor has insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji and the people of Maharashtra and should immediately tender an apology for his remarks....The people of Maharashtra will not tolerate this kind of a slur against the Maratha warrior by the Governor. He is trying to contort history. He has lost his moral right to continue as Governor and the Centre should recall him”.
Having apparently realised that he had erred in describing Swami Samarth Ramdas as the ‘Guru’ of Shivaji, the Governor clarified on Monday evening: “Chhatrapati Shivaji is an inspiration for people across the country. I had read somewhere that Swami Samarth Ramdas was Maratha warrior’s Guru. But, people have come up with some new facts from the history about Chhatrapati Shivaji. That being the case, I will gather more facts and decide on what to do next.
Koshyari came up with this clarification when media persons buttonholed him for his comment and asked if he would apologise for wrongly describing Swami Samarth Ramdas as the ‘Guru’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Earlier, in the day, BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale said:
“RashtraMata Jijabai was the actual ‘guru’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj… Sant Ramdas was never his ‘guru’, that is the real history. Yet, Governor Koshyari has cited incorrect history in this regard”.
Shiv Sena Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that the Governor’s statement about Sjhivaji had triggered resentment among the people in the state. He asked the Opposition BJP to take a stand and clarify on the issue immediately. “There is huge resentment in Maharashtra over the Governor’ statements. The BJP should clarify or take a stand,” Raut said.
Even Patole wondered as to why the BJP “is silent”. And The remarks by Patole and Raut should be seen in the context of the public perception that Koshyari, being a BJP leader himself before being appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra, continues to be close to the ruling party at the Centre. On his part, BJP state President Chandrakant Patil chose not to say anything on the Governor’s statement. “No comments,” was all he said, when he wasd contacted by media persons.