'Not Trying To Make Our Hindi-Speaking Brothers Experts In Marathi': CM Fadnavis Amid Ongoing Language Row - VIDEO

· Free Press Journal

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, reacting to the ongoing statewide drive to assess the Marathi language proficiency of autorickshaw and taxi drivers, said that the state government has no intention of making Hindi-speaking people experts in Marathi.

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis said, “We are not trying to make our Hindi-speaking brothers experts in the Marathi language, but they should have working knowledge of the language. Efforts are being made to make them learn the language. The deadline to learn the language has been extended three times now.”

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Fadnavis also assured that the Mahayuti government would not allow anyone to face injustice on the basis of language in the state.

Autorickshaw drivers launch strike

Meanwhile, following the directives of Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, the officials are conducting a statewide drive to assess the practical Marathi knowledge of autorickshaw and taxi drivers.

However, following the assessment, several autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai launched a three-day strike to protest the Marathi language requirement for autorickshaw, taxi and cab drivers.

Speaking about the strike, one autorickshaw driver said, “There is a three-day autorickshaw strike. This has been called over the Marathi language directive. Nobody is listening to us. If you ask a 60-year-old person to suddenly speak Marathi, how will they do it? We want justice.”

Kandivali protest disrupts traffic

Earlier in the morning, traffic movement on Kandivali Link Road was disrupted after a group of autorickshaw drivers allegedly stopped their vehicles on the road to protest the state government's Marathi language requirement. The protest reportedly caused a traffic jam on Link Road, with vehicle movement slowing for around 20 minutes and inconveniencing commuters and motorists.

Sarnaik proposes additional time

Amid the ongoing Marathi language row, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik posted a video on X, saying that the Mahayuti government aims to create employment and provide opportunities to people.

“We do not snatch someone's employment from someone,” Sarnaik said, adding that Maharashtra welcomes people from outside the state and encourages them to work in the state. However, he said the government only expects them to meet the Marathi language requirement.

Sarnaik further said he would personally request the government not to take immediate action against autorickshaw, cab and taxi drivers who fail to meet the language requirement and instead give them additional time to learn Marathi.

“But even after three months, if they fail to learn the language, then according to the rules, we will have to cancel their licences and take away their badges,” he said.

RTO drive tests thousands

According to data dated August 21, RTO teams tested 9,233 drivers across Maharashtra on the second day of the drive. Of these, 1,499 were found to lack practical Marathi knowledge and were subsequently served notices.

In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), 3,942 vehicle owners and drivers underwent the assessment on the second day. Of these, 722 were found to lack practical Marathi knowledge, and notices were issued to all of them. Outside the MMR, authorities tested 5,291 drivers, with 777 failing the practical language assessment and receiving notices.

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