Maharashtraculture ministerSubhash Desai metunion culture minister Kishan Reddyin Delhi to ask that Marathi be declared a .
He also requested that the announcement be made on February 27 which is the birthday of poet Kusumagraj and is celebrated as Marathi Bhasha Din. Reddy said both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are in favour of granting Marathi the status of a classical language.
If granted classical status the Centre will have to provide Rs 500 crore annually for study, research, and promotion of the language.
The department has also ensured thousands of postcards with the demand are sent to President Ram Nath Kovind. At present Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odiya have been granted classical status.