MNS pelts stones at Shinde Sena leader for ‘anti-Marathi’ stance

Workers of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly pelted stones at Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam who reached Dahisar on Friday, to support Hindi-speaking auto rickshaw drivers who are opposed to a recent government resolution (GR) passed by the Fadnavis government, making it compulsory for them to speak in Marathi while interacting with passengers.

The police have detained MNS workers for allegedly pelting stones.

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Nirupam interacted with auto drivers in Ganpat Patil Nagar in Dahisar suburb regarding the strict enforcement of Marathi language. In the meantime, MNS leaders Nayan Kadam and Kunal Mainkar reached here along with their workers after which they raised slogans in support of the government’s pro-Marathi language policy.

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has ordered strict implementation of the GR from May 1. Sarnaik has warned that the licenses of rickshaw or taxi drivers who cannot read and write Marathi will be cancelled from May 1.

Sanjay Nirupam allegedly stated that if anybody tries to impose Marathi, “they will be taught a lesson”. Speaking in Dahisar, Sanjay Nirupam said, “Our party and Eknath Shinde’s stance from the beginning is that people living in Maharashtra should speak Marathi. Nobody has any objection to the fact that Marathi should be respected in Maharashtra. However, forcing, bullying, forcing and threatening someone in the name of enforcing Marathi language is wrong and we are against it”.

“The GR passed by the Maharashtra government has been in existence from 2019. It is not wrong to have such a demand, but for this we have to give some time to the auto and taxi drivers. They have to be given an opportunity to learn Marathi. There are many drivers who speak Marathi, but many of them cannot speak Marathi,” Nirupam said.

“However, the GR says that rickshaw drivers will be given tests in Marathi language after May 1. If they fail in this test, their permits will be cancelled. Due to this, many people’s businesses may have to shut down. Therefore, this decision should be reconsidered,” Nirupam said.

Meanwhile, MNS Thane-Palghar district president Avinash Jadhav has issued a warning to Hindi-speaking rickshaw drivers who are planning to go on a strike on May 4.

“According to the official information obtained from the RTO, there are 4 lakh, 10 thousand auto rickshaws in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Some 65% of these auto rickshaw drivers are Marathi. Except for some parts of Mumbai and Thane, auto drivers are Marathi everywhere. If they (Hindi-speaking auto rickshaw drivers) are the sons of their fathers, then he should come to Mira-Bhayander on May 4 and prove it. We assure that nobody in Maharashtra will be disturbed on May 4. When the time comes, we will take out our vehicles and take passengers home. But after that, if anyone creates any trouble, we will send them directly to UP,” MNS Thane-Palghar district president Avinash Jadhav warned.