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Hindi or Marathi? Minister scripts new controversy
Published on Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 12:06, Updated on Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 12:13 in 
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Mumbai: Maharashtra's Finance Minister Jayant Patil was caught on Friday peddling the “sons of the soil” agenda beginning with a decidedly preferential treatment to the Marathi press.
"English and Hindi Channel cameramen, please turn off your cameras. I'll speak to the Marathi press because they understand the problem better,” he told a press gathering.
After much ado, he finally obliged the English media with a quote in Hindi on his latest pet project. He wants all signboards, hoardings and name boards of business establishments to be in the Devnagri script even as they retain the names in English.
“Wherever there are sign boards, they should have the Devnagri script. This is Maharashtra and Maharashtrians should be able to read what is written,” he said.
Noticeably, he mentioned just the script and not the language, perhaps in a bid to steer clear… of controversy.
But Mumbaikars are still divided.
"It won’t work for people like me who don't speak or read Marathi,” said a Mumbaikar.
However there is a catch: All signboards on railway stations, business establishments and shops are already in the Devnagri script.
So what's the fuss all about? Another ploy to wrest the Marathi vote bank from the opposition? Only time will tell.
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Many Indian politicians are incapable of ruling the country calmly ensuring national integration, service, sacrifice and patriotism. In order to
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