Maharashtra Minister addresses Marathi language dispute and political rumors

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has accused certain leaders of attempting to destabilize the atmosphere in Mumbai and Thane to influence upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The controversy stems from the state government’s ‘Marathi Language Proficiency Campaign,’ which has led to rumors regarding heavy fines for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who do not meet language requirements.

Sarnaik clarified that no driver has been fined 20,000 to 25,000 rupees as rumored, stating that no such penalties have been imposed. He claimed that some individuals are intentionally spreading misinformation and creating regional tension under the guise of Hindi and Marathi language disputes.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav weighed in on the matter, criticizing the politicization of language and questioning whether language mandates infringe upon the constitutional right to conduct business. Yadav suggested that such conditions could create mental pressure on drivers, potentially affecting safety. In response, Sarnaik suggested that Yadav should focus on the elections in Uttar Pradesh rather than Maharashtra's politics.