Now Reading: Auto driver assaulted, passengers pulled out in Mumbai Marathi protests
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Auto driver assaulted, passengers pulled out in Mumbai Marathi protests
Auto driver assaulted, passengers pulled out in Mumbai Marathi protests
An autorickshaw driver was assaulted on MG Road in Kandivali West on Monday by another driver who was part of a group protesting the Maharashtra government's Marathi proficiency drive. The Kandivali police…
An autorickshaw driver was assaulted on MG Road in Kandivali West on Monday by another driver who was part of a group protesting the Maharashtra government's Marathi proficiency drive. The Kandivali police are registering an FIR in connection with the assault.
Demonstrations broke out in Kandivali, Malad West, Santacruz, Dahisar, Andheri and other locations. At Laljipada, drivers staged a roadblock around 9am. Police dispersed the protesters. Some protesters stopped other auto and taxi drivers, forced passengers to deboard, and tried to damage vehicles.
An auto-rickshaw union leader said panic among drivers who cannot speak Marathi sparked the protests, and that no union had called for a strike. The situation had normalised by the afternoon. The Maharashtra Transport Department's drive, launched August 20, had issued notices to 1,268 drivers on the first day and 1,499 the next for lacking Marathi knowledge. A Borivali RTO official said misinformation had spread that drivers would be fined Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Marathi proficiency drive, which began August 20, targets commercial vehicle drivers across Maharashtra. Notices issued so far total over 2,700. The transport department's rule requires drivers to have a working knowledge of Marathi for licensing. No fine amount has been officially set for non-compliance, the Rs 5,000-20,000 figure appears to be rumour. The protests, though disruptive, were localised and did not involve major unions. The next move will depend on whether the government clarifies the penalty structure or modifies the enforcement timeline.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
