<p>Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the classical language status for Marathi.</p>.<p>Currently, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia have been given the status of classical languages.</p>.<p>In an official communication from the Maharashtra government, Thackeray said, "The state government-appointed expert committee on this issue had submitted its report on November 16, 2013, to the Centre."</p>.<p>The Marathi language fulfils the criteria to obtain the status of classical language but the issue is pending before the Centre's department for culture.</p>.<p>In the letter, Thackeray said the issue has been pending for a long time and asked the PM to look into it personally.</p>.<p>The criteria for bestowing classical language status includes high antiquity of its early texts and recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years, a body of ancient literature and texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers, among others.</p>.<p>Thackeray's party Shiv Sena often projects itself as the protector of the Marathi culture with its son-of-the-soil agenda.</p>
<p>Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the classical language status for Marathi.</p>.<p>Currently, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia have been given the status of classical languages.</p>.<p>In an official communication from the Maharashtra government, Thackeray said, "The state government-appointed expert committee on this issue had submitted its report on November 16, 2013, to the Centre."</p>.<p>The Marathi language fulfils the criteria to obtain the status of classical language but the issue is pending before the Centre's department for culture.</p>.<p>In the letter, Thackeray said the issue has been pending for a long time and asked the PM to look into it personally.</p>.<p>The criteria for bestowing classical language status includes high antiquity of its early texts and recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years, a body of ancient literature and texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers, among others.</p>.<p>Thackeray's party Shiv Sena often projects itself as the protector of the Marathi culture with its son-of-the-soil agenda.</p>