NASHIK, July 29: The controversy over the anti-Brahminical remarks of Maratha historian M M Deshmukh in Nashik in the presence of state health minister Dr Daulatrao Aher, continues with the Akhil Bharatiya Brahmin Mahasangh (ABBM) deciding to sue Deshmukh and demanding the resignation of Aher.Aher, however,has declined to apologise saying that the utterances were not his.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Aher said that he was not responsible for the utterances of some other person. He added that he held national heroes and saints in high regard.

The Brahmins have decided to launch an offensive against Aher all over the state. At a meeting held last night, they expressed surprise over Aher's silence over the issue, and called for his resignation as he had been elected from the Nashik assembly constituency on a large chunk of Brahmin votes, but failed to defend them.

They also lamented that Aher at least could have said that he did not subscribe to the views of Deshmukh. It was also decided to sue Deshmukh.The controversial meeting was held in Nashik on July 20, when the Maratha community felicitated Aher for being elected as the president of the Maratha Vidhya Prasarak Samaj.

At the meeting, Deshmukh blamed the Brahmins for subjugating Marathas by misusing their blind religious faith and manipulating historical facts.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.