New Delhi: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing “shock” over the language used by Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray over the reopening of places of worship amid the COVID-19 pandemic.In his letter to Modi, the Rajya Sabha MP, whose party is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, said he was “pained” by the erosion of standards of conduct by the high constitutional office of the governor.In the letter to the chief minister on reopening of temples, Koshyari had asked, “Have you suddenly turned secular, the term you hated?”Maharashtra has the highest cases of COVID-19 in India and with no let up in new cases, Thackeray had decided to keep temples shut. He said temples see large gatherings of people, which increase the risk of the disease spreading. Koshyari targeted the Maharashtra CM for this decision, saying while even bars and restaurants have been opened, temples haven’t been allowed to.Maharashtra Governor B.S. Koshyari and CM Uddhav Thackeray. Photos: PTIPawar said the prime minister had given the very appropriate slogan of do gaj ki doori to curb the spread of COVID-19 and added that the Maharashtra government is also planning a campaign to make people aware of the importance of social distancing.The former Union minister referred to the huge crowds some temples in the state, like that of Lord Vitthal in Pandhapur, Siddhivinayak in Mumbai, Sai Baba in Shirdi and others, usually witness on normal days.“In such places, it is almost impossible to maintain a safe distance between people. Keeping this in view, the government of Maharashtra had decided to stagger the decision regarding opening up of places of worship,” Pawar said.The NCP patriarch said he agreed the governor can have independent views and opinion on the sensitive issue and appreciated the latter’s prerogative to convey his views to the chief minister.“However, I am shocked and surprised to see the letter of the governor released to the media and the kind of language used in the letter,” Pawar said.The veteran politician said separately on Twitter that the kind of language used in the letter does not behove well for a person who holds a constitutional position.It was brought to my notice through the media, a letter written by the Hon. Governor of Maharashtra to the @CMOMaharashtraIn this letter the Hon. Governor has sought the intervention of the Chief Minister to open up religious places for the public. pic.twitter.com/1he2VOatx3— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) October 13, 2020The NCP president said he is sure the prime minister, too, would have noticed the intemperate language used in the governor’s letter.Pawar said the word secular is part of the Preamble of the constitution and it shields all religions.Hence, the chair of the chief minister must uphold such tenets of the constitution, he said.“Unfortunately, Hon. Governors letter to the Chief Minister invokes the connotation as if written to the leader of a political party. I firmly believe that in a democracy, free exchange of views between the Hon. Governor and the Hon. Chief Minister must take place. However, the tone and tenor used must always be in keeping with the stature of the constitutional post occupied by the individuals,” Pawar said.The veteran leader said that looking at the turn of events, the chief minister was left with no option but to release his reply to the governor in the press.Pawar said he fully endorsed the chief minister’s decision on this issue.He said he has discussed this matter either with Koshyari or Thackeray. “However, I felt that I must share my pain with you and the public at the erosion of standards of conduct by the high Constitutional office of the Hon. Governor,” Pawar told Modi.Pawar enclosed with his epistle to Modi a copy of Koshyaris letter.The NCP president also highlighted in his own communication to PM Modi two quotes from Koshyari’s letter to Thackeray.“You have been a strong votary of Hindutva. You had publicly espoused your devotion for Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as the chief minister. You had visited Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Pandharpur and performed the puja on Ashadhi Ekadashi,” the governor had said.“Wonder if you are receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening (of) the places of worship time and again or have you suddenly turned secular yourselves, the term you hated?” the governer told Thackeray in his letter.This is the second letter that Pawar has written to PM Modi about Koshyari’s conduct. In April this year, Pawar and Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut complained to Modi about the governor’s “interference” in the state’s administrative work.(With PTI inputs)
