I would have respected public sentiments: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Nana Patole on Slogan controversy

Amid the slogan controversy in Rajya Sabha, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Nana Patole said that the house should function as per the rules but public sentiments and faith are equally important. It was wrong to remove the slogan - ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ - from the record, he added. 

Recently, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu raised an objection to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Udyanraje Bhosale chanting ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ at the end of his oath. The Rajya Sabha chairman, who was administering the oath to 45 of the 61 newly elected members in the upper house, said that no slogans were allowed in the house.

Reacting to this, Patole said that he would have respected the public sentiment if he was on Naidu’s chair while highlighting that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj doesn’t only belong to Maharashtra but to the whole country. 

“There is no doubt that the proceedings of the house should be conducted as per the rules. However, public sentiments and faith are equally important. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj doesn’t only belong to Maharashtra but the entire country. It was wrong to remove them (slogans) from the record. If I were the Rajya Sabha speaker, I would have respected public sentiments,” Patole asserted. 

However, while talking to the media in Delhi, Bhosale said that Naidu didn’t insult Chatrapati Shivaji in any way. He further asserted that if Shivaji Maharaj had been insulted he would have resigned immediately. 

“I am not the one to remain quiet. I would have resigned at the very moment if Shivaji Maharaj had been insulted. Naidu said that you can take oath but not add anything else to it as it is not in line with the constitution,” Bhosale said adding that some people have made an issue out of it. 

Meanwhile, Naidu also issued a clarification saying that he meant no disrespect and was only reminding elected members that no slogans are given at the time of taking oath. The Vice President highlighted that he has always been an admirer of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and worshipper of Goddess Bhavani.

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