Prithviraj Chavan wants classical language status for Marathi

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said a committee of writers and linguists had been set up to prepare the proposal seeking "classical language" status for Marathi.     "The proposal will be sent to the Centre soon. Thecommittee comprises experts like Cicilia Carvalo, AshokKelkar, Kumar Ketkar and Arun Sadhu, among others," Chavan,who also heads the Marathi Language Department, told theAssembly while replying to the debate on the supplementarydemands for the Department.     He also said that the appointment of the new chairpersonof Language Advisory Committee, in the place of JusticeNarendra Chapalgaonkar, would be made soon.     The Chief Minister said that Chapalgaonkar quit theCommittee as he was unable to travel to Mumbai for themeetings.     Chavan assured that vacancies in the Marathi Departmentwould be filled up soon, and steps would be taken to increasethe use of Marathi in the official work at Mantralaya.     The opposition staged a walkout when the supplementarydemands were put to vote, protesting government's silence onthe issue of alleged irregularities in the Tribal Developmentand Social Justice Departments.