Raj Tackeray regrets opposition to Nayantara Sehgal, says she is welcome
Mumbai, Jan 7 (IBNS) :Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday expressed a regret over the issue of one of the party functionaries opposing writer Nayantara Sehgal inaugurating the 92nd Marathi All India Literary meet and apologised for "any convenience and strain", saying there is no objection from the party.
"When in her (Nayantara Sahgal's) presence, our profound culture and traditions stand unveiled, it can become a medium to exhibit our culture to the rest of the world... We have no opposition to Nayantara Sahgal and we wholeheartedly welcome her," he said on the twitter.
The official stand of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena regarding the ongoing controversy pertaining to the presence of acclaimed writer Nayantara Sahgal at the 92nd Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan pic.twitter.com/uQQx6u2V4o
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) January 7, 2019
He said that one of his local party workers had opposed Sahgal's presence at the meet. Thackeray said that he regretted the annoyance caused to the supporters of such literary events.
Sahgal, 91, was to inaugurate the 92nd edition of the All India Marathi Literary Meet literary meet on January 11 in Yavatmal district. The invitation, however, was withdrawn after threats to disrupt the function if she attended the event.
The literary meet organisers decided to drop Sahgal's name to "avoid any untoward incident and in view of the controversy that has cropped up against her name". Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too will be part of the event.
The opposition and authors condemned the decision to cancel the celebrated writer's invite.
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