MUBAI: The annual Marathi Sahitya Sammelan has courted controversy after noted academician Shripal Sabnis, elected president of the conclave, told students at a college in Pimpri-Chinchwad last week that the "PM could've been shot dead in Lahore". With this remark on PM Narendra Modi's impromptu Lahore touchdown, Sabnis has incurred the BJP's wrath, thus lending political overtones to the literary conclave scheduled to be held in Pimpri-Chinchwad next week. "Sabnis should restrict his comments to literature alone. However, the man speaks more on Narendraji (Modi) than literary issues," said state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari on Monday. Sabnis' election as the Sammelan chief has put paid to the BJP's gameplan to gain a foothold in the literary and cultural establishment of Maharashtra, said observers. The party is worried that Sabnis, said to be a known Modi baiter, may launch a year-long campaign against the PM. He has in the past been critical of Modi for the 2002 Godhra massacre. Sabnis has refused to take a step back. "Those who disagree with me should express their ire in a decent, civil manner. However, I am ready to face any eventuality. If they want me to join the ranks of Dr Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, I am game for it," reports quoted him as saying. "Whatever I said about the PM was out of my affection for him. I was worried for him when he visited Lahore," he added. Sabnis faced BJP activists' ire at a function in Latur on Saturday, following which he sought police security. Largely ceremonious, the year-long office of the Sammelan president enjoys a certain amount of clout as the occupant can bring a host of issues pertaining to language and culture, public morality and censorship, and creative freedom in the public domain, said literary analysts. The BJP is upset the Sammelan has the backing of the NCP which boasts of considerable clout in the Pimpri-Chinchwad belt of Pune district. Sharad Pawar and Gulzar will inaugurate the conference on January 16. However, there isn't much sympathy for Sabnis among Marathi writers. "This is because his literary credentials are dubious. His election to the presidentship of the Sahitya Sammelan merits a thorough probe. Second, he should have exercised restraint while making a public statement," said a well-known writer, requesting anonymity. "It is true that the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan president enjoys clout in public life, but those occupying the post should be men, or women, of unimpeachable integrity and scholarship. Sabnis doesn't answer the description. He may slam Modi to retrieve his reputation. But, by doing this, he will be playing into the Congress-NCP's hands," said Ashutosh Thakur, a chronicler of the Sammelans.