Prithviraj Chavan against use of literary platform to create divide

In an apparent reference to a controversy over glorification of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse in a souvenir released at the Marathi literary meet, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan today said use of such a platform to divide society must be condemned.

In his valedictory address at the literary meet, Chavan said, "If Sahitya Sammelan platform is used for dividing the society then it has to be condemned and one would have to reconsider their participation in such events."

Chavan was referring to a controversy erupted in the inaugural session of the meet on Saturday over mention of Godse, as one "who had immense respect for Gandhi" and also as a "hard-line Hindutvavadi and an ardent devotee of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar".

"Irresponsible statements can create havoc," Chavan said without mentioning any names.

Taking potshots at MNS and Shiv Sena over their fight for 'Marathi agenda', the chief minister said that "only by changing nameplates of shops into Marathi would not help to strengthening and preserving the language. Marathi should be way of life and in their soul.

Praising his government's efforts to promote Marathi, Chavan said a separate department has been set up for the language. The government is emphasising use of Marathi in all the official works and also in information technology.