NEW DELHI: The opposition on Sunday slammed the Centre’s decision to confer the Padma Bhushan on former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, claiming he had insulted the constitutional office by toppling the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government during his tenure.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that even the Supreme Court had said that Koshiyari acted illegally during his tenure as governor.“For murdering democracy and the Indian Constitution in Maharashtra to install the Shinde-BJP government, these gentlemen have been honoured by the Modi government with the Padma Bhushan. The same gentleman had insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Mahatma Phule couple. The BJP honours those who insult Maharashtra! Nice,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader wrote on X.Speaking to reporters, Raut also said that the Mahayuti government — including chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde — should condemn the decision to award the Padma Bhushan to Koshiyari, who had insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and social reformers Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule.He further claimed that Koshiyari wanted to topple the majority government of Uddhav Thackeray and install a BJP dispensation in the state. Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad also weighed in on the issue, claiming that the BJP has a long history of insulting Maharashtra’s great leaders and constitutional icons.“Honouring such a person with a Padma award is an insult to Maharashtra,” she said.‘I don’t work for someone’s appreciation’Meanwhile, Koshiyari asserted that he does not work for “someone’s appreciation or criticism”.Speaking to news agency ANI, the former Uttarakhand chief minister said that he remains committed to working for “Bharat Mata” and the RSS.“I don’t work for someone’s appreciation or criticism. I am a worker of the RSS, and for me Bharat Mata is everything. I will continue to work for Bharat Mata,” Koshiyari said.Fadnavis backs former governorHowever, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis backed the former Maharashtra governor, saying that he has contributed to society and worked for development.Hitting back at Raut, Fadnavis said that “small-minded people are opposing” the Padma Bhushan for Koshiyari.“Bhagat Singh Koshiyari has contributed to society and worked for development. The committee on ‘One Rank, One Pension’ was also chaired by him, and based on its report, the Indian government agreed to the demand,” Fadnavis said.“He has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan for strengthening India’s relations with Nepal. Some small-minded people are opposing it. Who received Padma awards during whose tenure is not something that should be commented on,” he added.Koshiyari served as Maharashtra governor from 2019 to 2023, a tenure marked by several controversies.When Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister, he accused Koshiyari of being overactive and pointed out that the governor had not filled 12 vacant seats in the state Legislative Council despite the state government’s recommendation.The former governor also faced criticism over his remark describing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as “an icon of the olden times”.
