Maharashtra CM noncommittal on Sahitya Sammelan visit

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday remained noncommittal about attending the Sahitya Sammelan even after litterateur Shripal Sabnis’ apology regarding his comments against the PM. However, the chief minister said that the controversy should end.

In his controversial remarks, Mr Sabnis had questioned Mr Modi’s credentials because of his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. He also criticised Mr Modi for making a sudden trip to Pakistan on December 25 last year. He said that Mr Modi could have fallen to a bullet or a bomb explosion at the Lahore airport during his surprise visit and that a condolence meeting would have had to be organised for the Prime Minister. He had also supported the “award wapsi” campaign by writers and artistes against the perceived intolerance under the NDA government led by Mr Modi.

Mr Sabnis’ comments stirred a major controversy. An effigy of the writer was paraded on a donkey by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Amar Sable at Pimpri while the party called for his apology.

Republican Party of India has even threatened to disrupt Sahitya Sammelan because of his statements against the Prime Minister.

However, Mr Sabnis on Tuesday issued an apology and requested Mr Fadnavis to visit the Sahitya Sammelan, which is customary for chief ministers. Mr Fadnavis urged that the controversy should not be fanned further after

Mr Sabnis’ apology. Regarding his visit to the event, the chief minister said, “I had never said that I would not visit the Sahitya Sammelan. But it is true that some of the comments made by him (Mr Sabnis) were improper. But now he has tendered an apology so everything should end there.”

However, when asked specifically whether he would the event, the CM did not give a definite answer.

The three-day Sammelan will be held at Pimpri in Pune district from January 16-18 and the controversial comments by Mr Sabnis about the Prime Minister had led to speculation that Mr Fadnavis would keep away from the event in a departure from tradition.