Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, the governor of Maharashtra, stated on Friday that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis left the city, Mumbai would no longer be the financial centre of the nation. Political leaders sharply criticised him for the statement, alleging that he had insulted the state's Marathi-speaking residents. At a ceremony to rename a space in the Andheri neighbourhood of Mumbai on Friday, Koshiyari made the controversial comment. The governor claimed: "Sometimes I tell people in Maharashtra that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis leave here, especially from Mumbai and Thane, then you would have no money left with you. 'You call Mumbai the financial capital, but it won't be considered the financial capital if the people from these states aren't here.' Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena lawmaker, criticised the governor's words and claimed that they were offensive to Marathi people. Koshiyari was required to apologise for his comments, according to Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, or the party would demand that he be
