Sanjay Raut, a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), expressed his approval of the Centre’s decision to grant classical language status to Marathi, emphasizing that this achievement results from collective efforts rather than a single party or leader. He remarked that if the BJP-led government aimed to gain political favor following its Lok Sabha losses in Maharashtra, such gestures were unnecessary, as Marathi deserves recognition on its own merit.

The Union Cabinet recently awarded classical language status to Marathi, along with Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, coinciding with the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Raut noted that every political leader and chief minister over the past 30 to 35 years contributed to this achievement, underscoring its significance as a collective victory.

He criticized the BJP, stating that while they have recognized Marathi officially, they should also work to keep industries from relocating outside Maharashtra. Additionally, Shiv Sena leaders paid respects at the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial, honoring the founder of the Shiv Sena, who advocated for the Marathi identity.

The demand for classical language status for Marathi has gained traction in the lead-up to the state assembly polls. Earlier this year, the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra formed a committee, headed by former diplomat Dnyaneshwar Muley, to address this issue. Since the Government of India established the category of classical languages in 2004, Marathi’s recognition adds to the existing six classical languages in India, which include Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.

Source: PTI

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