Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has once again sparked a controversy by not removing his footwear while paying floral tributes to the martyrs of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on Saturday as India marks the 14th anniversary of the massacre. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant said removing one's footwear while paying tributes is Indian culture and definitely the culture of Maharashtra. ''The governor has been repeatedly disrespecting Maharashtra, its culture and icons. CM Eknath Shinde should have reminded him to remove his footwear and show respect to the martyrs of the terror attacks," Sawant tweeted.
Several leaders from across the country on Saturday paid homage to those who lost their lives during the terror attacks. Koshyari and Shinde paid tributes at the martyrs' memorial on the premises of the Police Commissioner's Office in south Mumbai in the morning.
Koshyari came under heavy criticism from former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar for saying last week during an event in Aurangabad that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an icon of "olden days".
{{/usCountry}}Koshyari came under heavy criticism from former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar for saying last week during an event in Aurangabad that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an icon of "olden days".
{{/usCountry}}Sanjay Raut, a leader in the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, has demanded Koshyari's removal as the governor and also sought Shinde's resignation.