Maharashtra Governor stops his speech, leaves

Bhagat Singh Koshiyari was addressing the first day of the Assembly’s Budget session amid sloganeering.

Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders protest against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari outside the Assembly on the first day of the budget session, in Mumbai, on Thursday. | Photo Credit: PTI

In an unprecedented scene, the Maharashtra Governor stopped his address on the first day of the Budget session of the State legislature in less than a minute and left the building amid sloganeering by Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs demanding the resignation of Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik. Mr. Malik is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged involvement in money laundering cases linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

As Mr. Koshyari entered the hall, MLAs from the ruling MVA chanted slogans hailing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a reference to Mr. Koshyari’s controversial comment on the Maratha king few days ago. When the Governor rose to speak, BJP MLAs displayed posters of Dawood Ibrahim and Nawab Malik inside the hall, demanding Mr. Malik’s ouster. Mr. Koshyari tabled the speech, barely spoke three lines, closed his file, and left the venue, leaving the ruling side stunned. Both Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar appeared at a loss. As ruling party MLAs gathered around them, the national anthem was played.

The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) condemned the Governor’s abrupt departure. The national anthem is traditionally played after every Governor’s speech to the joint session. The MVA also slammed the BJP for disrupting the Governor’s speech.

Speaking to reporters, State Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray termed the incident unfortunate and questioned Mr. Koshyari’s action in not delivering his address or waiting for the national anthem.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State president and Irrigation Minister Jayant Patil said, “There was no reason for him to cut the speech. Disrespecting national anthem is unthinkable. This is unparliamentary and we condemn it.” The MVA said there was no question of asking Mr. Malik to resign as all allegations against him were politically motivated.

The Congress, too, slammed the Governor, with its State president Nana Patole saying the party was considering a resolution asking the President of India to recall Mr. Koshyari.

In his tabled address, Mr. Koshyari condemned the “defacing of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Bengaluru on December 16, 2021 and the throwing of ink on the president of ‘Madhyavarti Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti’ in Belgaum”. “The many repressive acts of the Karnataka government against Marathi speaking people of the disputed border area are condemnable,” he stated.

He listed out measures taken by the State government in combating COVID-19, and developmental projects undertaken. “My government’s financial decision-making was made more challenging due to the economic slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This was further compounded as a result of non-receipt of GST compensation of ₹29,942 crore which was payable up to February 18, 2022 by the central government to the state,” he stated.