Maharashtra cab, auto drivers should learn Marathi; BJP demands 100-day extension
A demand has been made for 100 more days to help non-Marathi-speaking cab and auto drivers complete language training in Maharashtra. The request comes as ministers signal flexibility while stressing the push to implement the Marathi rule.
The Maharashtra government’s move to make Marathi knowledge mandatory for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers has prompted the BJP to demand for an additional 100 days for non-Marathi-speaking drivers to complete their language training.
Haji Arfat Sheikh, president of the Maharashtra BJP Transport Cell, has submitted a request to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, seeking the extension.
The state government had given non-Marathi-speaking auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers time from May 1 to August 15, 2026, to learn Marathi. However, Sheikh said heavy rainfall during this period disrupted the training process, with halls, schools and classrooms unavailable at several locations.
He also claimed that trainers could not reach several locations on time in cities including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Malegaon, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Akola, Parbhani and Nanded.
75% DRIVERS HAVE BASIC MARATHI KNOWLEDGE, SAYS SHEIKH
According to Haji Arfat Sheikh, around 75 per cent of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra have acquired basic knowledge of Marathi.
He said the remaining drivers should also be given an opportunity to complete their training and should not face immediate punitive action.
Sheikh has therefore sought an additional 100 days for the drivers to complete the required training. He said the BJP Transport Cell would extend full cooperation in ensuring that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers receive the necessary training and that the government's objective is achieved.
YOGESH KADAM SAYS EXTENSION CAN BE CONSIDERED
Amid the demand for an extension, Minister of State for Home and FDA Yogesh Kadam said additional time could be considered for drivers who need it.
Kadam said Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had initiated the move concerning the Marathi language, but pointed out that a law relating to Marathi already exists. He said the government was now working towards implementing the existing law.
"If auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers need additional time to learn Marathi, there is no objection to it," Kadam said. He added that drivers who require more time can approach the concerned minister with their request, following which an extension could be considered.
Kadam stressed that a positive approach was needed on the issue and that drivers should be willing to learn Marathi.
He said there should be no problem if a driver needed an additional 10 or 15 days to learn the language. The government's objective, he said, was not to impose Marathi forcibly or solely through punitive measures.