File Photo: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis, today, said the state government has decided to confer classical language status on Marathi language and it is up to the Centre to decide on the issue and added that Mumbai will continue to belong to Marathi people.



"Maharashtra government has decided to confer classical language status on Marathi language. However, a decision to this effect has to be taken at Union Cabinet meeting," Mr Fadnavis said.



He was speaking at the presentation of Janasthan Puraskar to senior journalist and noted litterateur Arun Sadhu.



Marathi writer and chairperson of Kusumagraj Pratisthan Madhu Mangesh Karnik, who presided over the function, said he was concerned over the dwindling Marathi population in Mumbai.





"Percentage of Marathi people is reducing in Mumbai. While it was 52 per cent in 1960, today it has reduced to 22 per cent. Even the civic Marathi medium schools are closing down. In the next 20 years, only five per cent Marathi speaking population people will remain in Mumbai," MrKarnik said.In response, Mr Fadnavis said, "105 persons sacrificed their lives during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. As long as I am the chief minister of Maharashtra, Mumbai will continue to belong to Marathi people."