Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad accused the BJP of having a history of insulting Maharashtra’s great leaders and constitutional icons
Bhagat Singh Koshyari served as Maharashtra’s governor from September 2019 to February 2023. File Pic
Maharashtra Congress and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leaders have criticised the decision to confer the Padma Bhushan on former state governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, reported the PTI.
The announcement sparked sharp reactions, with leaders describing the award as an insult to Maharashtra and its cultural icons.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said that Koshyari had insulted the constitutional office and hurt the sentiments of people in the state.
Speaking after a Republic Day 2026 event at the Congress office, Sapkal claimed that the former governor’s actions were inappropriate and unacceptable, according to the PTI.
The Congress leader also revealed that he had refused an award from a Pune-based social organisation because the ceremony was to be hosted by Koshyari.
Varsha Gaikwad accuses BJP of disrespecting Maharashtra icons
Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad accused the BJP of having a history of insulting Maharashtra’s great leaders and constitutional icons. She alleged that Koshyari had made disrespectful remarks about revered figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, and Savitribai Phule, as per the PTI.
Gaikwad said honouring Koshyari with a Padma award was a “direct insult to Maharashtra”.
NCP (SP) leader condemns the award
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto joined the criticism, saying Koshyari’s repeated controversial remarks had hurt Maharashtrians’ sentiments. He added that awarding him the Padma Bhushan demonstrated the BJP’s “arrogance of power” and disregard for the state’s history and cultural pride, according to the PTI.
Crasto said people of Maharashtra would not forget the alleged insults to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and described the award as shameful.
Controversial tenure as Maharashtra Governor
Koshyari served as Maharashtra’s governor from September 2019 to February 2023. His tenure was marked by frequent clashes with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray.
During this period, Thackeray criticised him for being “overactive” and noted that Koshyari did not fill 12 vacant seats in the state Legislative Council, despite recommendations from the state government.
Koshyari had also faced criticism for once referring to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as “an icon of the olden times”, a remark that sparked public outrage, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
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