"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 [Images] 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.