Maha Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari draws flak after saying Mumbai to cease to be financial capital if Gujaratis, Rajasthanis removed

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari drew flak from Congress, Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party after he said Mumbai will run out of money and will not remain the country's financial capital if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed.

"I tell people here that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, you will have no money and Mumbai will not be a financial capital," Koshyari said at an event in Mumbai.

Koshyari yesterday presided over the inauguration and naming ceremony of a chowk after Shantidevi Champalalji Kothari at J P Road, Andheri. Member of Parliament Navneet Rana, MLAs Ravi Rana, Amit Satam, Nilesh Rane, Bharati Lavekar and Pankaj Bhoyar were among those present at the inauguration ceremony.


In a release issued by the Raj Bhavan, Koshyari complimented the contribution of Rajasthani-Marwari and Gujarati communities in making Mumbai the financial capital of the country.



The Congress criticised Koshyari over his statement and demanded an apology from him. State Congress spokesman Atul Londhe slammed the governor over his remarks, saying that they smack of his hatred for the state. He also demanded an apology from the governor.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule said the comment is an insult to martyrs. "This statement of the Governor is insulting to those martyrs. This city was built by laborers, laborers and laborers. All of them have the first right to Mumbai. This is 'Aamchi Mumbai' for all who are born in this soil and love Mumbai," she tweeted.



Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said the governor must apologise or they will demand his transfer. "This is an insult to the people of Maharashtra and the hard work of the Marathi people who are working round the clock to make the state the leading state in the country," she wrote on Twitter.

Shiv Sena's official spokesperson and Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council, Manisha Kayande said during the Thackeray government, the governor who came from Uttarakhand created many difficulties to prevent him from working. She said this shows hatred for Maharashtra and love for BJP.

"Marathi people wake up! It will not take long to go to Mumbai Gujarat. Public protest of the hateful governor of Maharashtra!" she said.

However, BJP leader Nitesh Rane added fuel as he questioned how many Marathi people made it big or rich? How many marathi youths were given BMC contract? He went on to accuse that Thackeray had given all his money and property to Nandkishore Chaturvedi. "Is it working? Did you not remember the Marathi man then?" he said.

(With inputs from PTI)