In a controversial move, the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra has decided that a working knowledge of Marathi will be mandatory, henceforth, to get an auto-rickshaw’s licence in Mumbai.
In a statement by the Transport Minister Diwakar Raote, he called the fresh permit as a “diwali gift” for fellow Marathis:
As a Diwali gift to the people, the government will issue 1 lakh fresh auto permits in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (which includes parts of adjoining districts) and 25 per cent of the existing number of autos in other parts of the State. In 1997, the then government had stopped issuing fresh auto permits. But in the last 15 years, the population of the state has increased rapidly and we think at least one lakh fresh permits need to be issued in MMR region alone.
Opposition Congress and NCP were quick to slam the decision accusing Sena and BJP of whipping up the sons-of-the-soil sentiment for making gains in Mumbai civic polls due in early 2017.
Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam said:
Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city where people of all faiths and other states stay. In such an environment, there cannot be any discrimination in the name of language. The government can ensure a driver knows the topography of the city but cannot discriminate.
– Sanjay Nirupam, Mumbai Congress President
NCP leader Sachin Ahir on the other hand called the government “extremists”.
Apart from having a working knowledge of Marathi, the auto-rickshaw applicant should also have lived in the state for a minimum of 15 years.
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