Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray has sparked a fresh controversy over Maharashtra’s Marathi language policy after warning auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers against speaking Hindi or behaving rudely with passengers.
Thackeray’s remarks came shortly after the Maharashtra government granted auto-rickshaw, taxi and cab drivers an additional one year to learn functional Marathi, temporarily extending the deadline for compliance with the language requirement.
Amit Thackeray Issues Warning to Drivers
Speaking in Nagpur, Thackeray said the MNS would take action if it received complaints about drivers speaking Hindi or mistreating passengers.
“If it comes to our notice that someone is speaking in Hindi or behaving rudely, then we will beat them,” Thackeray was quoted as saying.
He also objected to drivers allegedly insisting that passengers speak Hindi, saying Maharashtra would continue to use Marathi. His comments have intensified an already sensitive debate over language, migration and regional identity in the state.
Thackeray Questions Fadnavis Government’s Decision
The MNS leader also criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the decision to give drivers an additional year to acquire functional Marathi.
Thackeray questioned whether political considerations surrounding the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections influenced the decision. He argued that the state should not compromise on its language policy because of electoral considerations elsewhere.
He pointed to other parts of the country, including Gujarat, Punjab and southern states, where regional languages have a strong cultural presence, and argued that Maharashtra should similarly prioritise Marathi.
Why Was the Marathi Deadline Extended?
The Maharashtra government had earlier required non-Marathi-speaking auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn basic Marathi. The original deadline was set for August 15.
Chief Minister Fadnavis said representatives of auto-rickshaw and taxi driver organisations had requested more time, citing the diverse age groups and educational backgrounds of drivers.
The government subsequently granted them one additional year and said no action would be taken during this period solely because drivers had not yet met the language requirement. Marathi classes and study material are also expected to be provided to help drivers acquire the required language skills.
Language Policy Becomes Political Flashpoint
The controversy has placed Maharashtra’s Marathi language policy back at the centre of political debate. While proponents argue that people working in public-facing services should have a functional understanding of the state’s official language, critics have raised concerns about threats and coercive methods being used to enforce language preferences.
Thackeray’s comments are likely to intensify the political discussion surrounding the role of Marathi in Maharashtra and the treatment of Hindi-speaking workers and migrants.
The latest controversy also comes amid reported differences among political parties in Maharashtra over how aggressively the Marathi language requirement should be implemented.
As the government begins the extended one-year period for drivers to learn functional Marathi, the focus is now likely to shift toward how the policy is implemented—and whether political groups attempt to enforce language preferences outside the formal government process.
