NCP bats for Marathi news channels in 5-star hotels

Having made 'Marathi pride' the mainstay of their existence, Shiv Sena and MNS appear to have competition on hand with Sharad Pawar's NCP too claiming a slice of the politically rewarding pie.
MLA and working president of NCP's Mahrashtra unit Jitendra Awhad has written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar demanding that 5-star hotels in Mumbai compulsorily show Marathi news channels.
Awhad has also complained about "secondary treatment" meted out by these hospitality establishments to the "state language".
"Be it Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad or Nashik. The 5-star hotels there should show Marathi TV programmes. After all, Marathi is the state language.

"You show news bulletins of all languages in these hotels...Italian, French, Spanish. Then why this allergy to Marathi," Awhad told reporters here today.
Insisting that these hotels cannot ignore the state language, Awhad said,"Why should one presume that those living in 5-star hotels won't like to watch Marathi news channels or programmes."
Earlier this month, speaking at the inauguration of a new RTO building in Andheri, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had asked the transport department to ensure that the maximum number of permits for autorickshaws and taxis are issued to those from Maharashtra.
"Those from Mumbai, Thane and particularly, the sons of mill workers should be given priority while issuing the permits. This has to be done to prevent people from raising emotional issues," the senior NCP leader had said.