MNS, UBT Sena slam Fadnavis over Marathi rule extension

Mumbai: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis' decision to give migrant taxi and auto drivers a one-year extension to learn Marathi has not gone down well with the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Shiv Sena and MNS, which have alleged that the government took the step with an eye on the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls.

"We have understood how much affection you have for the Marathi language and for our state. You can give them a 10-15-year extension too. Every other state, be it Gujarat, Punjab or southern states, takes pride in its own language. However, here the decision has been reversed with an eye on the Uttar Pradesh polls," said Amit Thackeray, son of MNS president Raj Thackeray.

UBT Sena MP Sanjay Raut also slammed the state government's move, claiming that there was political pressure from the BJP leadership in Delhi on the state government because of the upcoming UP elections. "The government is acting on the whims of what their masters in Delhi are saying and in the process they have sacrificed the pride of the local language. Those providing public service while earning their livelihood should respect and communicate in the local language that is Marathi," said Raut.


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