National Conference of Estimates Committees: Why no banners in Marathi, asks MNS leader

Mumbai, Jun 23 (PTI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Sandeep Deshpande on Monday criticised the state government for lack of banners in Marathi at the National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State/UT Legislative Bodies being held at Vidhan Bhavan in the metropolis.

The banners are only in Hindi and English, said Deshpande, who took part in a signature campaign in Dadar area against Hindi being made compulsory in schools and the three-language formula.

"Why are there no banners in Marathi on the main stage at the conference? If we don't honour Marathi, who will? Even though this is a national conference, the venue is Mumbai and Maharashtra, so Marathi should have been used," he said.

Pointing out that Chintamanrao Deshmukh resigned as finance minister from the Nehru cabinet during the Sanyukta Maharashtra movement, he said this "impotent" government must take inspiration from him.

Deshpande added that he was ready to face a breach of privilege notice for his remarks and also go to jail for the sake of Marathi language.

Responding to him, Maharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe said, "Marathi is our mother tongue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given it classical status. Criticism over small issues is unnecessary." Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the conference has been organised by the Lok Sabha Secretariat and, therefore, the banners were in Hindi and English.

"If the Maharashtra government had organised the function, the banners would have had Marathi," he asserted.

Apart from Shinde and Gorhe, the conference was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde. PTI MR BNM