India, June 19 -- The Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad has objected to the state government's latest decision about Hindi as a third optional language from Class 1, calling it "a threat to the linguistic and cultural identity of Maharashtra."

In a meeting held on Thursday, the Parishad demanded an immediate withdrawal of the government resolution (GR) dated June 17, giving the government a seven-day deadline to revoke the decision.

Attendees at the meeting included Prof Milind Joshi, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, author and language advisor Laxmikant Deshmukh, and noted writer Achyut Godbole.

Prof Joshi said, "We have formally written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis urging the government to immediately wi...