What's Mumbai without Gujaratis & Rajasthanis?: Maha governer leaves several irked with remarks, issues clarification
After criticism, Koshyari has issued an explanation in which he said that he did not mean to insult Marathis but he was rather talking about the contribution by the Gujarati & Rajasthani people in the development of Mumbai.
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Mumbai, July 30: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has landed in controversy for saying that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are taken out of Maharashtra, the state will have no money left. During a speech, the governor said, "If Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, no money would be left here."
"Wherever members of this community go, they not only do business, but also do acts of philanthropy by creating schools, hospitals," he said.
However, after criticism by many Marathi politicians, Koshyari has issued an explanation in which he said that he did not mean to insult Marathis but he was rather talking about the contribution by the Gujarati & Rajasthani people in the development of the state.
"But as always, my statement was distorted. The contribution of the hard work of the Marathi people in building the Maharashtra state is the highest. Recently, people have developed a habit to view everything with a short-sighted vision through a political lens. We have to change this. The appreciation of one community is never an insult to another.”
"Mumbai would not be able to remain the financial capital of the country," Koshyari added. He made the statement after the naming ceremony of a chowk in Andheri.
A release issued by Raj Bhavan said Koshyari praised the contribution of Rajasthani-Marwari and Gujarati communities in making Mumbai the financial capital of the country. The governor said the Rajasthani-Marwari community is living in different parts of the country and also in countries like Nepal and Mauritius.
"Wherever members of this community go, they not only do business, but also do acts of philanthropy by creating schools, hospitals," he said.
Several leaders from the Shiv Sena and Congress criticised Koshyari and demanded an apology from him. Sanjay Raut condemned the remarks saying that the Governor had insulted the hard-working Marathi people.
After this criticism, Koshyari issued an explanation in this matter from the official Twitter handle of the Governor of Maharashtra. He said, “Mumbai is the pride of Maharashtra. It is also the financial capital of the country. I am proud that I got the opportunity to serve as governor in this land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Marathi men. That is why I tried to learn the Marathi language in a very short period of time. I had no intention of undermining Marathis in the statement I made at a Rajasthani community event yesterday. I spoke only about the contribution made by Gujarati and Rajasthani people to the business here.”
Koshyari further said, “It was the Marathi people who worked hard and raised Maharashtra. That is why many Marathi entrepreneurs are famous today. They are taking ahead the Marathi legacy not only in Maharashtra but also in India and around the world. Therefore, there is no question of underestimating the contribution of the Marathi people.
