Maha govt to oppose visa to 'Shivaji' author

The Maharashtra government will ask the Ministry of External Affairs not to grant visa to Jaimes Laine, who authored a controversial book on Shivaji, to visit India as it will "hurt the sentiments" of the people of the state.

"I will personally write to the External Affairs Minister (Pranab Mukherjee) asking that Laine should not be granted a visa if he applies for one. I am aware that this would hurt the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra," Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told the legislative council in Mumbai.

Deshmukh was replying to a question by Sanjay Dutt during Question Hour on Wednesday. Laine, who authored the controversial book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India has in the past expressed a desire to come to Maharashtra.

Maharashtra government had banned the book, after severe protests in the state.