Mah CM justifies Rs 50 lakh donation to Mah Mandal

Mumbai, July 5 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today justified his decision to announce a bi-annual donation of Rs 50 lakh to the US-based BrihanMaharashtra Mandal during his recent visit there.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Deshmukh said the issue was not of money, but out of courtsey that the State government was appreciative of the Mandal's efforts to promote and preserve Marathi in the United States among the second generation Maharashtrians born and bred there.

He denied that the Mandal had turned down the money.

''The Mandal organises the three-day bi-annual event very meticulously spending around Rs three crore. It takes pain to encourage the second generation US-bred Maharashtrians to imbibe Marathi culture and tradition. The Mandal always invites the State's Chief Minister for the event. My decision to announce the donation was a gesture to suggest that the State government was supporting its endeavour,'' he added.

UNI