Sharad Pawar Thanked Governor for Coffee Table Book (File)
Bombay:
NCP Chairman Sharad Pawar criticized Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for his coffee table book “Jan Rajyapal”, Affirming that such a term does not exist in the Constitution and underlining the absence of opinion to the chief minister on secularism in the publication.
In a letter to Mr. Koshyari dated October 21, Sharad Pawar said he had received the coffee table book which features one year in office for the governor.
Bhagat Singh Koshyari took over as governor of Mahasrashtra in September last year when the BJP was in power in the state. In November last year, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Shiv Sena, in which the NCP is a key ally, took office.
“Word ‘Jan Rajyapal“(The People’s Governor) finds no mention in the Indian constitution, but the state government published it (the book),” Pawar wrote.
The former Union Minister observed that the book contains photographs of some swearing-in ceremonies and summons, among other events, which have taken place over the past year.
Mr Pawar added sarcastically: “The book does not contain information on the advice you gave to the chief minister on secularism which the Union Home Minister took note of.”
The leader of the NCP thanked the governor for sending him the book which is a “historical account” of his tenure in Raj Bhavan.
Earlier this month, Bhagat Singh Koshyari wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about the delay in reopening places of worship, which are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and sought to know if he had become “secular”.
Mr Thackeray, who also runs the Shiv Sena, responded by saying that he did not need a Hindutva certificate from the governor.
During the war of words between the two constitutional officials, an angry Sharad Pawar launched a missive at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, objecting to the language used by the governor in his letter to the chief minister.
Union Home Secretary Amit Shah later said the governor could have avoided certain words.
After Amit Shah’s remarks, Sharad Pawar said that anyone who is self-respecting would not continue in this post.
