Vadodara: “Because you live in Gujarat, you should respect Gujarati language but you should also honor out mother tongue (Marathi language).”, said Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and former union minister Sharad Pawar when addressing Maharashtrian community in a program of unveiling the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Maratha Mangal Karyalaya in Vadi Khedkar faliya in Vadodara city.

NCP president Sharad Pawar was welcomed at Harni airport in Vadodara at his arrival in the morning by the leaders of Shri Malhar Mahalsakant Maratha Mandal. The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled at the hands of NCP president Sharad Pawar in the presence of Rajmata Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad, Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, Maharani Radhikaraje and former mayor Ranjitsinh Chavhan. The NCP president said while addressing the function that his father had taken higher education from Vadodara. He said that various Maharashtrian programs are held in Vadodara and they should be encouraged as they increase the unity of the community.