Pune: The annual general meeting of the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, held on Saturday (September 14), witnessed a brief disruption following accusations of defamation against its office bearers.

The commotion arose when a letter written by Vijay Shendge, allegedly defaming the organization through social media posts, was discussed in the meeting.

The members of the Parishad, after a majority vote, decided to temporarily suspend Shendge’s membership, and he was asked to leave the meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Dr. Raosaheb Kasbe, was attended by key officials, including Dr. Shivajirao Kadam, vice president Rajeev Barve, executive president Prof. Milind Joshi, chief executive Sunitaraje Pawar, and treasurer Vinod Kulkarni. Despite the interruption, the Parishad's financial statement and budget for the upcoming year were approved.

The controversy began when, with the permission of the chair, Kulkarni read Shendge’s letter, which allegedly contained defamatory remarks about the Parishad’s leadership.

Several members, including Anjali Kulkarni, Mrinalini Kanitkar, and Jyotsna Chandgude, demanded legal action against Shendge, as well as the revocation of his membership. A letter from Dr. N.M. Joshi was also read aloud, criticizing Shendge for expressing dissent without maintaining appropriate decorum.

Shendge was given an opportunity to present his defense from his seat but requested to speak from the stage, a request that was denied. When Shendge refused to comply, he was asked to leave the meeting due to his temporary suspension. After Shendge’s departure, the meeting continued without further disruption.

During the meeting, Dr. Kasbe addressed the issue, expressing concern over the increasing political influence within democratic institutions, stating, "While we saw the virtues of democracy post-independence, the last decade has shown us its flaws, as political ideologies are being injected into institutions. This letter is a clear example of that. I will ensure that as long as I am president, no political party takes control of this organization."

Prof. Milind Joshi highlighted that the Parishad’s progress had caused discomfort for some, leading to defamatory attacks on its leadership. "Shendge may be the face of this issue, but the real forces behind it are elsewhere," Joshi remarked.

"No illegal activity has been conducted by any office bearers, and the Parishad will not tolerate interference in its literary mission. The process of amending the organization's constitution is nearly complete and will be ratified in a special meeting soon."