Udaipur, 29 December (H.S.): Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday issued an apology for his remarks on Maharana Pratap, stating that his statement was presented out of context and incompletely, which led to a misunderstanding. He appealed to people to listen to his entire speech to understand its intended meaning.

Kataria’s remarks were made during his visit to Udaipur for a foundation stone-laying ceremony at Dhula Ghati in the Gogunda area. In the speech, he had said that Maharana Pratap’s legacy received wider recognition following initiatives taken during the Janata Party’s tenure, and that places such as Haldighati, Pokhargarh and Chavand became prominent due to development works undertaken then.

The comments triggered protests by several social organisations. The controversy further escalated after Raj Shekhawat, national president of the Kshatriya Karni Sena, made objectionable remarks and issued threats on social media.

In a video message released later, Kataria clarified that his intention was never to hurt sentiments or undermine the respect accorded to Maharana Pratap. He said that if his words had caused pain to anyone, he apologised, adding that he holds deep reverence and respect for the Mewar ruler.

Referring to his political career, Kataria said that after becoming an MLA at the age of 33, he had requested the then chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to approve the Mewar Complex scheme. He said this led to the development of historical sites such as Kumbhalgarh, Gogunda, Chavand and Haldighati. He also noted that the government has recently allocated Rs 175 crore for the development of sites associated with Maharana Pratap.

Kataria further explained that his remarks were made in the context of the Congress party’s long tenure in power after Independence. He said that from 1947 to 1977, adequate efforts were not made to widely propagate the life and valour of Maharana Pratap. He added that his sentiment was that all political parties should collectively work to preserve and promote the legacy.

“There can be no compromise on the honour of Maharana Pratap,” Kataria said, urging people to listen to the full speech and offer suggestions if they found any factual errors.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar