# Sonam Kapoor reacts to Mumbai auto strike over Marathi test 2026-08-25T22:40:32+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Sonam Kapoor has reacted to the ongoing strike by Mumbai autorickshaw and taxi drivers protesting the Maharashtra government's rule making Marathi knowledge mandatory for commercial drivers. The actor commented on a post by journalist Faye D'Souza with a single word on Instagram: "Huh." Since an August 15 deadline, transport officials have assessed over 5,000 drivers and issued notices to 722 in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region who could not speak Marathi. Drivers began a three-day strike on Monday, blocking traffic on Kandivli Link Road. They said the requirement adds financial burden and that older drivers find it hard to learn the language within the deadline. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The Marathi language rule for commercial drivers in Maharashtra stems from a 2022 state transport department circular aimed at ensuring drivers can communicate with passengers. Similar language requirements exist in other states for local transport, but the August 2026 enforcement deadline has triggered the first large-scale protest. Autorickshaw unions represent tens of thousands of drivers, many of whom migrated from other states. The strike's immediate test is whether the transport department will extend the compliance deadline or offer exemptions for older drivers. The next decision point is the transport commissioner's response to the strike. ## Coverage - indiatoday.in Reports the strike and reaction factually without slant This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Faye D'Souza, Maharashtra State Transport Department, Mumbai, Sonam Kapoor Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sonam-kapoor-reacts-to-mumbai-auto-strike-over-marathi-test/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sonam-kapoor-reacts-to-mumbai-auto-strike-over-marathi-test/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/