Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Mumbai from September 12 to 14, during which he is scheduled to visit the Asiatic Society in Fort and attend the sixth Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan, focused on Hindi, in Vashi. This year too, he is scheduled to visit the Lalbaugcha Raja idol on the first day of Ganeshotsav on September 14.
Having arrived in Mumbai on Saturday night, he was also likely to hold a late-night meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP leaders to discuss organisational matters. The demand has reportedly been pending with the Centre for the past four years.
A key issue likely to be raised before the Union Home Minister is the long-pending demand to grant the Asiatic Society the status of an “institution of national importance”.
The ‘Asiatic Tomorrow’ group won the election held in July, with former BJP MP Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe being elected president. The Asiatic Society’s recent election had also attracted attention. Shah’s visit was finalised following an invitation from the institution’s new leadership. The second major event on Amit Shah’s Mumbai itinerary is the sixth Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre in Vashi. Senior ministers and officials from the Centre and Maharashtra are also expected to attend. MNS chief Raj Thackeray has questioned the need for the Hindi event in Mumbai. BJP’s Mumbai unit president Amit Satam hit back at Raj Thackeray, accusing him of hypocrisy over the Marathi language issue and questioning his decision to educate his children in English-medium schools. The Union Home Minister traditionally visits Mumbai during Ganeshotsav and seeks blessings at Lalbaugcha Raja. This year too, he is scheduled to visit the Ganesh idol.
The two-day conference will be held on September 14 and 15 and will bring together Hindi writers, institutions, government officials and representatives from across the country.
