Maharashtra at it again: Now, only Marathi-speaking people can get autorickshaw permits in Mumbai

Amid raging controversy over banning sale of meat in Mumbai for four days during a Jain fasting season, the Maharashtra government’s new order could ruffle a few more feathers. The state government on Tuesday issued an order making Marathi mandatory for those seeking permit to ride an autorickshaw in Maharashtra. State transport minister Diwakar Raote said that one lakh new auto permits for Mumbai Metropolitan Region have been announced but added that these permits would be given only to Marathi-speaking applicants. The Hindustan Times report quoted Raote as saying, “New permits will be issued by November and applicants must submit domicile certificate and should know Marathi language. Those who don’t know Marathi language will not get the permits.” Raote added that the applicant should submit a domicile certificate as a proof that he or she has been a resident of the state for the past 15 years. The rule, that a permit-holder should know the local language has always been in place but never before was it imposed.  According to the report in HT, Raote, a senior Shiv Sena leader, is known for insisting on using Marathi for official purpose.  Last permits were issued in 1997. Now for the MMR region 1 lakh and for few other cities such as Solapur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad around 7,500 permits will be issued, The Times of India reported. At the same time, the Maharashtra government has decided to regularise over 1.4 lakh autorickshaw’s across the state, who have not renewed permits or cancelled since last few years. The fees to renew permits will be Rs 20,000 for MMR region and Rs 15,000 for the rest of the state, the report further added. The move by the state government is sure to kick the hornet’s nest as Maharashtra houses millions of migrant workers. By putting down these pre-requisites, the state government has almost ensured that migrants from other parts of India, who want to work in the state, also learn Marathi. According to IndiaTV, after the BJP came to power in Maharashtra last year, the Devendra Fadnavis government conducted a survey and found that around 70 percent of auto drivers in the state are non-Marathis. A few members of the Opposition party called the move politically motivated as the civic body elections are round the corner. Sanjay Nirupam, Mumbai Congress chief said, “We condemn it and demand that such policy should be withdrawn as early as possible. We will not tolerate such divisive politics on language, caste and creed.” In 2012, the Congress-NCP combine government in the state also mooted the idea of giving autorickshaw licences to only Marathi-speaking applicants.