Compulsion To Speak Marathi For Taxi & Auto Drivers From 1 May Causes Consternation

All eyes are now on Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on how he handles the situation created by transport minister Pratap Sarnaik’s fiat to compel auto rickshaw and taxi drivers to speak Marathi with passengers from 1st May in the state. A leader of Sarnaik’s own party, the Shiv Sena (Shinde), former MP Sanjay Nirupam, is in the forefront of raising a banner of dissent, urging the minister to reconsider the order. The situation is likely to become complicated as Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has supported the directive. Moreover, volatile statements are made by certain functionaries. An announcement by MNS to print and distribute stickers for use of taxi and rickshaw drivers declaring that they know and use Marathi has added to the tension as a section of the drivers have declared their resolve to observe a strike from 4th May against the order. Sarnaik says that it was decided by the state government way back in 2019 to make it compulsory for taxi and rickshaw drivers to interact with passengers in Marathi. However, many complaints were received that the decision was flouted. Therefore, it has been decided to implement the decision strictly, he maintains. Certain MNS leaders have declared that a lesson will be taught to those drivers who say that they don’t know Marathi and will not speak it. Thus, the CM is confronting a complication within the Mahayuti led by him.