MUMBAI: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that those living in Maharashtra should learn Marathi, while asserting that violence in the name of language would not be tolerated. Speaking after a gathering at Hutatma Chowk on the occasion of Maharashtra Day, Mr. Fadnavis emphasised that pride in one’s mother tongue is important, but any attempt to enforce it through intimidation or aggression is unacceptable. His remarks come amid tensions 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 be required to learn the language. However, following opposition from several rickshaw and taxi unions, the deadline for implementation has been extended until August. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), meanwhile, has warned of action against those resisting the move.
MNS president Raj Thackeray has demanded cancellation of licences of drivers who refuse to speak Marathi, triggering a political row across the state.
Responding to the controversy, Mr. Fadnavis reiterated the need to preserve Marathi language and identity, but cautioned against coercive methods. “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.
The Chief Minister also stressed that Maharashtra has never been a “narrow-minded” state. “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 added.
Criticising MNS’s politics of violence, Mr. Fadnavis said, “Marathi is a beautiful and simple language that can be taught easily without resorting to conflict or assault.”
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