Maharashtra belongs to all, says CM

Describing the 'Marathi versus non-Marathi' issue as the narrow political agenda of a few politicians, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Monday said a placement agency owned by one such leader had recruited 150 non-Maharashtrians.

"Their party's public stand says something and the leaders act otherwise. I am not complaining," Chavan said without naming any party, during his reply to the motion of thanks to the governor, for his address to the joint sitting of the state legislature.

When the Opposition benches asked Chavan to name the party and the leader concerned, he said, "I will reveal the names at an appropriate time."

Chavan claimed that his government had an all-inclusive approach in its vision for developing the state. "Maharashtra belongs to all. My government is committed to the welfare of all the people who live here," he said.

He said his government was committed to the development of Marathi language, art and culture.

"We have already kept the theatres in the PL Deshpande Academy reserved for Marathi cinema and even the Bharat Mata theatre will screen only Marathi films," he said.

Earlier, referring to the criticism about non co-ordination among the ruling coalition partners and especially the reported altercation between Chavan and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar in a cabinet meeting on the eve of the session, the chief minister said in a coalition, there are bound to be differences of opinion.

"There is perfect understanding amongst us. The Opposition should not try to create misunderstandings," he said.

"The Shiv Sena-Baharatiya Janata Party combine should know the working of a coalition. They too had so many fights, which had to be resolved by late Pramod Mahajan, who made frequent trips to Mumbai," Chavan said.