The issue has also drawn a response from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, with its president Raj Thackeray demanding cancellation of licences of drivers who refuse to speak Marathi.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said residents in the state should learn Marathi, while asserting that violence in the name of language would not be tolerated.
Addressing a gathering at Hutatma Chowk on Maharashtra Day, he said pride in one’s mother tongue was important but enforcing it through intimidation or aggression was unacceptable.
His remarks come amid a controversy over a proposal to make Marathi mandatory for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik had proposed that non-Marathi-speaking drivers learn the language. Following opposition from unions, the deadline for implementation has been extended till August.
The issue has also drawn a response from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, with its president Raj Thackeray demanding cancellation of licences of drivers who refuse to speak Marathi.
Responding to the row, Fadnavis said, “There has to be pride in the Marathi language. Whoever resides in Maharashtra should try to learn Marathi. If they haven’t learnt it, we will teach them. However, violence in the name of language or controversy over it is unacceptable.”
He said Maharashtra has not taken a narrow view on migration. “Maharashtra has never held the view that migrants should not live here or that only certain people should reside here. The ‘Maharashtra Dharma’ taught by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj does not support such exclusion. I am proud to see Marathi people contributing to the culture and development of every state they live in,” he said.
Criticising violent methods, he added, “Marathi is a beautiful and simple language that can be taught easily without resorting to conflict or assault.”
