Sharad Pawar writes to PM Modi, complains about Maha Governor

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said he was shocked and surprised with the kind of language used by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray this morningShooting off a letter directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pawar said that he was in agreement with the Governor to have his independent views and opinions on the issue of reopening of religious places but simultaneously the Maratha strongman also threw his weight behind ThackerayThe fastpaced developments came a day after a Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari wrote a letter to the Governor accusing Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis of violating the Oath of Office and Secrecy by revealing details of the Aarey Colony project and demanded he should sacked from the postI also appreciate the prerogative of the Governor to convey his views to the CM However I am shocked and surprised to see the letter of the Governor and the kind of language used in it Pawar informed Modi even as the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv SenaNCPCongress stood rocksolid behind ThackerayQuoting some of the statements by Koshyari in his letter to Thackeray Pawar pointed out to Modi the intemperate language used therein and which invokes the connotation as if written to the leader of a political partyIn the very Preamble of our Constitution the word Secular is added that equates and shields all religions and hence the Chair of the Chief Minister must uphold such tenets of the Constitution Pawar pointed outHe added that the CM was left with no options but to release his reply to the Governor though he had not spoken with either of the states two top Constitutional dignitariesI thought I must share my pain with you and the public at the erosion of standards of conduct of the high Constitutional office of the Hon Governor said PawarIn the letter making a case for permitting people to worship in temples closed since the lockdown was clamped on March 23 Governor Koshyari had asked a pointed question to Thackeray You have been a strong votary of Hindutvahellip Have you turned secular yourself the term which you hatedCongress state President and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the Governors language which was against the Constitution would be acceptable to the President of IndiaMoreover a similar situation is there even in Goa then why the Governor has not issued such a letter to reopen the places of worship there Thorat demandedNCP President and Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil pointed out that theres a possibility of a second wave of Coronavirus in November which could pose a further risk of infections spreadingReligious leaders of all faiths have accepted that people must remain safe and so any measures in this regard would be taken with utmost precautions Patil assertedTop leaders of Sena including Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut Arvind Sawant both MPs several ministers and leaders also attacked the BJP and the language in the Governors letterComparing temples with bars is not properthe PM said even today that the Corona threat has not been fully averted in Maharashtra When the PM is so much concerned about the situation here then the Governor should also think about it Raut saidTiwari who is accorded a Ministerial status has demanded that President RN Kovind should sack Koshyari who has insulted the CM and engaged in mudslinging in pandemic times maligned the office of Governor besides running the BJP agenda while Awami Party leader Shamsher Khan Pathan urged the President to dismiss the Governor immediatelySeveral top BJP leaders lambasted Thackeray and supported Koshyari among them Fadnavis Leader of Opposition in Council Pravin Darekar and State party chief Chandrakant Patil who said that bars and wine shops have been permitted to reopen but not templesKoshyaris letter to Thackeray this morning sparked off a major political row in the state though the CM indicated that he would not be cowed down and the government would consider the Governors request seriously and take an appropriate decision soon with all Covid precautionsAs the controversy raged the BJP along with seers and saints organised protests outside all prominent temples in the state including the famed Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai and the Saibaba Temple in Shirdi Ahmednagar demanding they be reopened for worshipKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute 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