Literary meet seeks fearless atmosphere for freedom of speech

The 89th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (All India Marathi literary convention) which concluded at Pimpri near here today demanded that the government must ensure "fearless and promising atmosphere" for the freedom of speech in the country.
Valedictory function saw the convention condemning the murders of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, CPM leader Govind Pansare and Kannada writer M M Kalburgi.
A resolution passed during the function said the central and the state governments should ensure "fearless and promising atmosphere" so that freedom of speech is not attacked.
President of this year's convention Dr Sripal Sabnis sought immediate measures to stop farmer suicides in Maharashtra.

The customary resolution on the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka was proposed by Shiv Sena leader Nilam Gorhe who sought justice for Marathi-speaking people living in Belgam, Bidar, Nipani and other border towns in Karnataka.
The convention demanded that the state government send a proposal to Central government seeking 'classical language' status for Marathi. Education Minister Vinod Tawde said the state government was committed to perusing this demand.
Sabnis, in his closing address, said the border issue with Karnataka should be settled out of the court. "There is a BJP-led government in the state (Maharashtra) and at the Centre. The government can declare the disputed area as a union territory," he said.

Meanwhile, outside the convention venue, the police detained some 30 youths who staged a protest over alleged suicide of Rohit Vemula, a Dalit PhD student at the Hyderabad Central University.