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Mumbai: The showdown between Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) hit a new low on Thursday morning as the Governor was forced to deplane the official Maharashtra Government aircraft in Mumbai. The Governor was on his way to Dehradun in Uttarakhand on an official visit. However, the pilot of the official aircraft simply refused to take-off forcing the Governor to get down. The Governor finally had to board a private commercial flight to Dehradun.
In an official clarification issued in the afternoon Raj Bhavan sources termed the reports appearing in a section of the media as “inaccurate”.
In its clarification, the Raj Bhavan stated that “the Governor of Maharashtra and Goa Bhagat Singh Koshyari is scheduled to preside over the official programme of the Valedictory Function of the 122nd Induction Training Programme of IAS officers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) at Mussoorie, Uttarakhand on the morning of Friday, February 12”.
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The official statement further states, “In this connection, the Governor was scheduled to depart from CSIM Airport Mumbai for Dehradun in the morning on Thursday 11th February. In preparation of the visit, the Governor’s Secretariat had written to the Government of Maharashtra authorities seeking permission for the use of Government Aircraft by the Governor, well in advance on February 2. The office of the Chief Minister was also informed”.
“Today, on February 11, the Governor reached the CSIM Airport and boarded the government plane. However, the Governor was informed that the permission for the use of Government Aircraft had not been received. As directed by the Governor, tickets for Dehradun were booked for the Governor on a Commercial Aircraft leaving Mumbai early in the afternoon immediately and accordingly, he left for Dehradun”, adds the Raj Bhavan clarification.
When asked about the incident, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar pleaded ignorance about the incident. He added that he will seek detailed information about the incident from the administration.
However, former chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJPs) Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Devendra Fadnavis slammed the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress led MVA government over the incident. “I have not seen a Government with so much ego in the history of Maharashtra. All this is childish and condemnable”, remarked Fadnavis.
It may be recalled that recently NCP chief Sharad Pawar had criticised Governor B S Koshyari for leaving for Goa without meeting a delegation of MVA leaders who wanted to submit their memorandum regarding the contentious farm laws. The Raj Bhavan then had to clarify that the Governor had gone to Goa to address the first session of the Goa assembly and had done so with full knowledge to some members of the delegation.
Ever since the formation of the MVA government, the MVA allies have criticised the Governor, be it over the invitation to form the government, swearing-in of the ministers, conduct of university exams during Covid-19 lockdown period, the nomination of the 12 Governor Nominated members to the Legislative Council amongst others. Ironically enough, Uttarakhand happens to be the home state of the Governor.
