Sanjay Nirupam writes to Maharashtra CM on permits

Objecting to making the knowledge of Marathi compulsory for auto rickshaw drivers in order for them to get permits, Congress Mumbai president Sanjay Nirupam has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday to intervene.

Shiv Sena leader and transport minister Diwakar Raote had announced last year that drivers would be made to take a Marathi test before they are issued permits. At present, the transport department is holding oral tests for those who get selected for the permits.

“I feel that auto rickshaw drivers should have a working knowledge of Marathi. But RTO officers are asking applicants tough Marathi questions to reject the permits. The Constitution does not allow any discrimination on the lines of language. Also, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court has passed an order that Marathi cannot be made compulsory in oral tests to fail the permit applicants. But the RTO officials are asking tough questions to the permit holders and harassing them,” Mr Nirupam alleged in the letter.

The leader has also requested the CM to give all those the permits whose names were selected in a lottery system. “Instead of making Marathi compulsory for the oral tests, the officials with the help of rickshaw unions should conduct Marathi classes. This will help the drivers to learn the language. But please do not ruin their means of livelihood,” Mr Nirupam wrote.

Elaborating on the tough questions, the Congress leader said that one person was asked ‘name of Amitabh Bachchan’s mother’ while another was asked ‘how to go to Mumbai Central’ when autos are not allowed in the area. “The permit holders should not be denied opportunity of employment because of their poor knowledge in Marathi. We can always teach them,” Mr Nirupam said. He also alleged that by denying permits, the government was encouraging touts.

Mr Raote had said that permits would be given only to those who can read and speak the Marathi, which he said was mentioned in transport law. The other criteria included being a permanent resident of Mumbai for at least 15 years. At that time, former transport minister and Mumbai unit President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sachin Ahir, slammed the decision, arguing that there was nothing wrong in expecting auto rickshaw drivers to speak in Marathi but it was wrong to enforce Marathi.