Diwakar Raote wants appeal to rise for national anthem in Marathi

Keeping in line with the Marathi insistence of his party, Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote and transport minister has demanded that all the cinema halls should have an appeal to rise for the national anthem in Marathi, in addition to English and Hindi.

Raote last week wrote a letter to revenue minister Eknath Khadse with a demand that the request to rise for the national anthem, which is displayed in all the theatres, should also be in Marathi. At present, the request is made on the screen in Hindi and English. Raote is known for his insistence on use of Marathi.

Raote informed media persons that he had been to a multiplex on Friday afternoon to watch the movie 'Natasamrat' and noticed that the appeal to all the spectators in the cinema hall to rise for the national anthem is shown on the screen in Hindi and English languages. Raote said that in Maharashtra, when people are supposed to understand Marathi, the language of the state, this appeal also needs to be made in Marathi. He said that he has written a letter to revenue minister Eknath Khadse in this regard.