Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari landed in controversy for saying that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are taken out of Maharashtra, the state will have no money left. During a speech yesterday, the Maharashtra governor said, "If Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, no money would be left here."
"Mumbai would not be able to remain the financial capital of the country," Mr Koshyari added.
He made the statement after the naming ceremony of a chowk in Andheri, a western suburb of Mumbai.
A release issued by the Raj Bhavan said Koshyari praised the contribution of Rajasthani-Marwari and Gujarati communities in making Mumbai the financial capital of the country.
The governor said the Rajasthani-Marwari community is living in different parts of the country and also in countries like Nepal and Mauritius.
"Wherever members of this community go, they not only do business, but also do acts of philanthropy by creating schools, hospitals," he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that these were the Governor's personal comments and he did not support them.
Several leaders from the Shiv Sena and Congress have criticised Mr Koshyari and demanded an apology from him.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut today condemned the remarks saying that the Governor had insulted the hard-working Marathi people.
"Soon after the BJP sponsored Chief Minister came to power, the marathi man is getting insulted," Mr Raut tweeted in Marathi.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Sachin Sawant also tweeted the video and said that the governor should not have made the remarks.
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