Episode triggers war of words between Shiv Sena and BJP, adds a new chapter in the uneasy ties between Uddhav Thackeray and Koshyari; the governor apparently had boarded the plane when he learnt about the denial in permission
CM Thackeray and Koshyari have locked horns over several issues
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was denied permission to use a state-owned aircraft to travel to Dehradun on Thursday, prompting the BJP to demand an apology over the incident. Sources said the governor had boarded the aircraft when he learnt that he would not be able to fly in it. Koshyari later took a commercial flight to his home state.
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The episode added a new chapter in the uneasy ties between the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the governor.
While the Raj Bhavan said the governor's secretariat had written to state authorities seeking permission for the use of the aircraft "well in advance" on February 2 and hand informed the Chief Minister's Office, the government said the Raj Bhavan secretariat had been informed a day earlier by the CMO that approval for use of the official aircraft has not been given.
The BJP accused the MVA of being "egoistic" and indulging in "childish acts". It said the government should apologise to the governor. "Such an incident had never happened in the state earlier. Governor is not a person, it is a designation. People come and go, but the designation stays," said BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the government had followed all norms in disallowing Koshyari to use the state plane for his visit to Dehradun. "We respect the governor. The government has upheld the Constitution...This is what I gather from my conversation with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray," he said.
He added, "If the governor wants to use the government plane for private work, then there are some rules and had the government violated those rules, it would have been in the dock."
Koshyari and Thackeray have locked horns over many issues. In October last year, during the coronavirus lockdown, Koshyari wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, asking if the latter had turned "secular" since he denied permission at that time to reopen temples in the state. The CM later said he does need a "Hindutva certificate" from anyone.
Feb 2
Date when Raj Bhavan says it first informed the state
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