Fadnavis affirms 'Shivaji Maharaj remains our hero' as Maharashtra Governor sparks row

Amid calls for Maharashtra Goverr Bhagat Singh Koshyari's ouster over his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis issued his first reaction on Sunday. Speaking at a function on vember 19, Goverr earned ire of opposition by dubbing legendary king an icon from olden days while referring to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as modern-day icons. Addressing a media briefing in Pune, Fadnavis opined that Goverr didn't intend to insult Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and affirmed that he will remain everyone's ideal forever. 

Devendra Fadnavis stated, "Until sun and moon exist, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will remain ideal of Maharashtra, country and us. In modern-day parlance, our hero is also Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. one has any doubt about this. I don't think Goverr has any doubt about this eir. Goverr's comments have been interpreted differently. But I feel that he doesn't harbour such a sentiment. or person apart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj can be an ideal in Maharashtra and country." 

On vember 19, Bhagat Singh Koshayi remarked, "If someone asks you who is your icon, who is your favourite hero, you don't need to go outside. You will get him (icons) in Maharashtra itself. Shivaji is from old era. I am talking about new era. You will get many (icons). From Dr. Ambedkar to Nitin Gadkari, you will get icons here." 

Koshyari sparks row

While Uddhav Thackeray-led government was in power, a row erupted on February 27 when Maharashtra Goverr asserted in a function in Aurangabad that Samarth Ramdas was guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Taking objection to this comment, MVA claimed that this was a distortion of history and sought his apology. Koshyari had said, "Who would have asked about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had re t been Samarth (Ramdas)"?

reafter, Maharashtra Congress unit circulated a video of his remarks made during inauguration of Savitribai Phule's statue at Savitribai Phule Pune University on February 14. On that occasion, Koshyari mocked child marri of Savitribai Phule with Jyotirao Phule. She opined, "Savitri Bai was married off at of 10. And her husband was 13. w imagine what boy and girl must be doing after getting married! What y must be thinking"! After facing a severe backlash across political spectrum, he apologised.