Marathi lit meet president slammed on Day 2

It was perhaps for the first time that the president of the All India Marathi Literary Meet was slammed at the meet itself. Chief guest Sharad Pawar and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing president Sadanand More on Saturday criticised Sripal Sabnis for his controversial statements.

Continuing with his series of controversial remarks, this time around, Sabnis said the killers of activists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi were followers of Nathuram Godse's ideology. In addition, Sabnis gave advice to the entire media, saying, "Media should introspect as to whether it is still the fourth pillar of democracy or has just been reduced to a wooden stick used while carrying the dead body of democracy for the last rites." It was, however, a comment on prime minister Narendra Modi that brought Sabnis under fire from all quarters, and for which he had apologised just two days ahead of the literary meet.

Giving advice to Sabnis without naming him, Fadnavis said controversies and debates were welcome in the field of literature, but they they should be about literary matters. He said instead of negativity, writers should ensure that their thoughts and writings spread positive energy and thoughts in the society.

The CM, while referring to the debate on intolerance, said the country has always been tolerant and would remain tolerant forever. He reminded that the original thought of a nation was of tolerance.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar disowned Sabnis by saying he met him for the first time only after Sabnis was elected as the meet's president. Pawar recalled that when the controversy over Sabnis' statement and irregularities during his election were being discussed, his name was also dragged in it.

Pawar said, "My name is dragged in every issue. These people would have dragged my name even in the Latur earthquake." The NCP leader said even as there was a debate on whether the society would remain secular, Maharashtra, with its rich tradition of Warkari sect, would come out of any onslaught against secularism.

Outgoing president More reminded Sabnis that when one assumes the charge as the president of the literary meet, he should always remember that there are inherent restrictions on expressing one's own thoughts in public. More said he remained within the limits of these restrictions for an entire year.

The forgotten CM

After his address at the literary meet, CM Fadnavis left for Mount Abu for another function. He informed Sabnis before leaving the venue. Sabnis had initially forgotten to mention Fadnavis, who had left when Sabnis' speech started, but he was later reminded with a chit. Then, mentioning Fadnavis in his speech, Sabnis praised him as a cultured, rational, studious and honest chief minister.

The Who's Who

1. Four Jnanapith award winners, including Sitakanta Mohapatra, Satyavrat Shastry, Savita Ai and Rehman Rahi, were felicitated during the inaugural session.

2. Reception committee chairman P D Patil donated Rs1 crore for the foundation floated by Nana Patekar and Makrand Anaspure to help distressed farmers in the state.

3. Film stars Subodh Bhave and Sonali Kulkarni anchored the inaugural ceremony while noted singers Ravindra Sathe, Nandesh Umap, Hrishikesh Ranade, Arya Ambekar, Mugdha Vaishampayan and Prathamesh Laghate performed traditional songs, including the welcome song specially penned by veteran journalist-lyricist Vijay Kuvlekar.

4. Politicians, including local MPs Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil, Shrirang Barne, Amar Sable and guardian Minister Girish Bapat, were present on the stage. Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and former minister Patangrao Kadam were in the audience. Noted scientists Raghunath Mashelkar, Sandeep Vaslekar and Srinivas Thanedar were also felicitated.