Eye on BMC polls, Raj Thackeray asks govt to implement domicile policy

Mumbai: With an eye on consolidating the 'Marathi vote' ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday said the BJP-led government should implement a domicile policy like the one implemented in Jharkhand to protect the interests of locals.

Talking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis early on Wednesday morning, Thackeray said if the policy is implemented, it will benefit the residents of the state.

"Jharkhand is implementing such a policy and we should also do the same," he said, adding, outsiders benefit from the government schemes.

As per Jharkhand's new domicile policy, those who have been living in the state in pursuance of their business or jobs and have acquired immovable assets in the last 30 years, or their children, would be considered residents of the state.

Also, those having their or their ancestors' names in the land records in the survey already conducted would be considered having domicile of the state.

During the meeting with Fadnavis, Thackeray discussed issues like the state government's stand on compulsion of Marathi for auto-taxi permits.

Granting partial relief to autorickshaw drivers, the Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench had earlier this year ordered a status quo on Marathi language test, made mandatory by the state government for seeking auto permits.

"We respect court, but court can't intervene in all matters. The court should have asked state government to take a call. Why is the state and central government there? It has become a trend that anyone approaches court and takes stay on the government's order," Thackeray said.

The MNS chief also raised his concern about suspected ISIS activity in the state.

"Due to non-implementation of the domicile policy, anyone is coming and staying here. The government does not know from where suspects have come," he said.

Despite assurances, Marathi hasn't been declared a classical language, he said.

The BMC elections are due early next year.