Udayanraje Bhosale: M Venkaiah Naidu did not insult Shivaji Maharaj

BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale on Thursday made efforts to downplay the controversy over Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu expressing disapproval after he chanted the slogan "Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji".

Rajya Sabha chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday administered the oath to 45 of 61 members newly elected to the upper house.

The newly elected members of Rajya Sabha took oath as Rajya Sabha MPs today. Due to coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was conducted by following all social distancing and other rules. While taking oath, BJP MP from Maharashtra Udayanraje Bhosale chanted "Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji".

Rajya Sabha chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu warned Udayanraje Bhosle "You are new to the House, so let me tell you this will not go on the record, only your oath will be recorded. It should be noted in the future that chanting slogans is not allowed in the House.

As the episode turned into a controversy in Maharashtra, Naidu too made it clear that he did not mean to insult anybody.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Bhosale, himself a descendant of the 17th century warrior king, said Naidu did not insult Shivaji Maharaj in any way.

"Naidu said you can take oath, but do not add anything else to it.....it is (chanting a slogan after taking the oath) is not in line with the Constitution," the BJP MP said.

"But some people have created a controversy out of it. Had (Shivaji) Maharaj been insulted, I am not the one to keep quiet. I would have resigned at the very moment," he said.

"Naidu did no wrong. Had he done so, I would have sought his apology," Bhosale added.