Move to hit livelihood of drivers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
Our Correspondent
MUMBAI: The BJP-Sena led government in Maharashtra has decided not to issue lincese to Hindi speaking drivers in state. The move is all set hit interest of thousands of auto drivers hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who migrate to the Maharashtrawestern state seeking greener pastures.
On Tuesday the Maharashtra Government issued an order saying only Marathi speaking people would be allowed to get permit for new auto rickshaw from November 1.
“After November 1, permit for new auto rickshaw will be given only to those applicants who can speak Marathi,” said Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote.
Applicants of the auto license will also have to undergo a Marathi test. The granting of license would be subject to passing the test.
More than 1,40,000 permits to be issued in the coming months and a chunk of auto rickshaw and taxi drivers in the city are from Bihar and Uttar pradesh.
The Shiv Sena has always implemented what it calls “Pro-Marathi” policies and maintains this is in the interests of Marathis. But the idea had found also support in the BJP, which, along with the Sena, form the ruling alliance.