Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday welcomed the Centre's decision to grant classical language status to Marathi, stressing that it was a result of collective efforts and cannot be credited to a single party or leader, reported news agency PTI.

Talking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said if the BJP-led Union government's motive behind the classical language status to Marathi was to compensate for its Lok Sabha rout in Maharashtra, its "alms" are not needed, as Marathi is a great language, reported PTI.