India, Feb. 21 -- The Government of India issued the following news release:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he welcomed all the Marathis to the grand event of Marathi language being organized in New Delhi. He said that the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was not confined to a language or a region and added that the Sammelan comprised the essence of freedom struggle as well as the cultural heritage of Maharashtra and the nation.

Remarking that Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, from its first edition in 1878 till now, has been a witness to 147 years of India's journey, Shri Modi ...