Maharashtra House approves resolution for Marathi in Central Govt offices

The resolution was approved after the Upper House witnessed five adjournments, with vociferous Shiv Sena members insisting that the Council pass a resolution to promote use of the state language.

Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh said the government would pursue the matter with the Central Government to ensure Marathi is used in its offices in the state."We will insist that the three-language formula of Marathi, Hindi and English be followed in these offices," the Chairman informed the House.

Sena group leader Diwakar Raote moved the resolution, seeking that use of Marathi be made compulsory in Central Government offices in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra.
"It is a fact that Marathi is not being used as per the three-language formula in these offices. This is an insult of Marathi," Raote said.

Minister of state for general administration Fauzia Khan requested the Sena leader to withdraw the resolution, saying "the feelings of the state government are as strong as yours are on the issue." |

This evoked noisy protests from Sena members who said the Congress-NCP had repeatedly promised about ensuring the implementation of the three-language formula but failed to keep its word.Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar said members of both the sides shared the same views on the subject and appealed Raote to withdraw the resolution so that the government could propose a similar one.The House was adjourned as the noisy scenes continued.It was adjourned four more times as the Sena members refused to withdraw the resolution.