Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray has warned of action against auto-rickshaw drivers who speak Hindi or behave rudely with passengers, after the Maharashtra government extended by one year the deadline for commercial passenger vehicle drivers to acquire functional knowledge of Marathi.
Thackeray criticised the extension and questioned the state government’s decision to give drivers additional time to meet the language requirement.
Thackeray makes strong remarks on Marathi use
Speaking about the issue, Thackeray said MNS workers would act against auto-rickshaw drivers found speaking Hindi or behaving rudely. He insisted that Marathi should be used in Maharashtra and objected to passengers being told that they must communicate in Hindi.
His remarks come amid a wider debate over the use of Marathi in public-facing services and the government’s efforts to make basic Marathi knowledge mandatory for commercial passenger vehicle drivers.
Government gives drivers another year
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the one-year extension on Thursday following a meeting with representatives of driver organisations.
Fadnavis said the organisations supported the requirement that drivers working in Mumbai should learn functional Marathi but requested additional time because people in the profession come from different age groups and educational backgrounds.
The state had introduced the Marathi requirement for auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers from August 12 under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
Drivers face penalties for failing language test
Under the amended rules, drivers unable to demonstrate practical knowledge of Marathi could face suspension of their driving licence authorisation for three months. Repeated violations could lead to permanent cancellation of their permits.
The Transport Department had already begun assessing compliance. On August 22, a statewide exercise tested 5,211 commercial passenger vehicle drivers in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.
Following the assessment, notices were issued to 777 drivers, directing them to acquire practical Marathi knowledge within one month. Failure to comply could have resulted in further action, including suspension or cancellation of driving authorisations.
Political row grows over deadline extension
Thackeray also alleged that the extension was influenced by the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and questioned the government’s commitment to protecting Marathi.
Fadnavis, however, maintained that the extension was intended to accommodate drivers who needed more time while retaining the basic Marathi requirement.
The dispute has brought language policy, passenger interactions and political concerns together in a debate over how Maharashtra should balance its linguistic identity with the realities of a diverse commercial transport workforce.