Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray has warned auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers against speaking Hindi or behaving rudely with passengers, saying his party would “beat” those found doing so. His remarks, made on Thursday, August 27, come amid a renewed political dispute over Marathi language requirements for commercial passenger-vehicle drivers in Maharashtra.
The warning followed the state government’s decision to give auto-rickshaw, taxi and cab drivers an additional year to acquire functional Marathi, after driver organisations requested more time. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the extension was granted because drivers come from varied age groups and educational backgrounds and needed more time to learn the language.
Thackeray, however, accused Fadnavis of weakening the Marathi language requirement for political reasons, alleging that the decision was influenced by the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The latest remarks have intensified concerns around linguistic identity, regional politics and the treatment of Hindi-speaking workers, even as the government maintains that the Marathi requirement remains in place.
‘If They Speak Hindi, We Will Beat Them’
Speaking in Nagpur, Amit Thackeray said the MNS would intervene if it received complaints that an auto-rickshaw driver was speaking Hindi or behaving rudely with passengers. “If it comes to our notice that someone is speaking in Hindi or behaving rudely, then we will beat them,” he said, adding that drivers should not tell passengers they had to speak Hindi and that the MNS would speak Marathi. His remarks were directed not only at alleged rude behaviour but also at the use of Hindi, sharpening the distinction between the state’s language policy and the wider political debate over the place of Hindi in Maharashtra.
The comments came shortly after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that auto-rickshaw, taxi and cab drivers would receive one year to learn functional Marathi. Fadnavis said representatives of driver organisations, led by Haji Arfat Shaikh, had met him and supported the requirement but requested additional time because drivers belong to different age groups and have varied educational backgrounds. The government has said that no action would be taken against drivers during the one-year period solely for not having the required Marathi proficiency, while learning materials and classes are expected to be provided.
Why The Marathi Requirement Became A Flashpoint
The extension follows a period of intensified enforcement of Maharashtra’s existing language requirements for commercial passenger vehicles. The Transport Department conducted a statewide assessment on August 22, testing 5,211 drivers on their practical knowledge of Marathi. Officials said 777 drivers were subsequently issued notices, including 722 from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, after they were found unable to demonstrate the required functional knowledge. Under the earlier enforcement framework, drivers were given one month to improve their Marathi, with non-compliance potentially leading to suspension of their driving authorisation and, in repeated cases, cancellation of permits.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had previously defended the enforcement drive, saying drivers must possess enough Marathi to communicate with passengers and warning that those refusing to comply could face action. The government had also announced measures intended to make compliance easier, including Marathi-language training centres and assistance for drivers.
Reports said around 1.65 lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers had participated in an earlier training and assessment campaign. The latest one-year extension therefore does not remove the Marathi requirement; rather, it gives drivers additional time to meet it.
At the same time, the language policy has faced opposition from some drivers and legal challenges. A petition filed by app-based cab drivers in the Bombay High Court has questioned the requirement, arguing that it could affect the livelihoods of a large number of drivers, particularly migrant and economically vulnerable workers. The petitioners have also argued that the Motor Vehicles Act does not prescribe such a language condition for driving licences.
Thackeray has now added a political dimension to the latest development by questioning why the government granted an additional year. He alleged that the decision was connected to the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and accused the chief minister of prioritising electoral considerations over the Marathi language. Fadnavis, however, has publicly attributed the extension to the request made by driver organisations and the practical difficulties faced by workers in learning the language within a short period.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Language is an important part of cultural identity, and ensuring that public-facing workers can communicate effectively with passengers can serve a legitimate public interest. At the same time, language learning should not become a reason for intimidation, discrimination or hostility towards workers who speak another Indian language.
Threats of physical violence, particularly against people earning their livelihoods, risk turning a policy discussion into a confrontation between communities. A constructive approach would be to combine reasonable language-learning requirements with accessible training, sufficient time and clear legal enforcement, rather than allowing political rhetoric to deepen linguistic divisions.
India’s diversity has always allowed multiple languages and cultures to coexist, and Maharashtra can promote Marathi while also treating Hindi-speaking and other linguistic communities with dignity. Can language policies strengthen local identity without creating fear or hostility between people living and working together?
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