'Shocked, surprised': Pawar's strong response to Koshyari's letter to Uddhav

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding reopening of places of worship in the state has left Nationalist Congress Party’s chief Sharad Pawar shocked, triggering a sharp response from the veteran politician.

Pawar, whose NCP is an ally of the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the “intemperate language” used by the Governor has left him “shocked and surprised”. Modi’s BJP is a former ally of the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

“Unfortunately Hon. Governors letter to the Chief Minister invokes the connotation as if written to the leader of a political party,” Pawar tweeted, after releasing the letter to Modi.

“In 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,” the NCP chief added.

Pawar said he has conveyed his views to Modi regarding the letter by Koshyari.

“I am sure he too would have noticed the intemperate language that has been used and also the kind of language used in the letter which does not behove well for a person who holds a constitutional position,” Pawar said.

“I must mention here that I agree the Hon. Governor can have his independent views and opinions on the issue. I also appreciate the prerogative of the Governor 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,” the letter read.