Guide me; didn’t insult Shivaji: Maha governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to Amit Shah

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has sought ‘appropriate guidance’ from Union home minister Amit Shah in a letter where he ‘clarified’ his remarks on Maratha warrior king Shivaji. The letter in circulation on Monday said he ‘could never imagine even in his dream to insult icons like Chhatrapati Shivaji’. Koshyari’s letter to Shah, written on December 6, said his statement on Shivaji was taken ‘out of context’ by a few who have used it to stir criticism against him.

During a convocation ceremony in Aurangabad, the governor said Shivaji was an ‘old icon’. “Earlier, when someone would ask you who is your icon, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi used to be the answers. In Maharashtra, we have Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, an icon of the olden days. But now we have Babasaheb Ambedkar and Nitin Gadkari, who are heroes of the present day,” Koshyari had said.

Koshyari said even during the height of Covid-19 he went on foot to Shivneri, Sinhagad, Raigad and Pratapgad, forts held by Shivaji. “I cannot even dream of insulting great people like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharana Pratap and Shri Guru Gobind Singh...,” he said.


Koshyari said Shah knew him well and if he had made any unwarranted remark, he had no hesitation in apologising. He ended his letter thus: “Amit bhai ji, you will recall that in 2016, I had expressed desire not to contest elections in 2019, and keep away from all political offices. At that time, the honourable PM and you expressed faith in a humble worker... It is only after that I accepted the assignment of Maharashtra governor. I appeal to you...to provide appropriate guidance.”