I was browsing through the Times of India , Hindi edition , following pieces of news caught my eyes, After 63 years of independence and federalism they are facing such problem in a highly educated state. Looks like education, Development and federalism itself is not enough to get rid of racial feelings, Somehow I feel it is a psychological status, its a feeling inside a brain which never goes. If it is like that Nepal will be facing many problems in future if we dont act smart.


News #1

MUMBAI: The Congress-NCP government in
Maharashtra has decided to give new taxi licenses to only those who are well
versed in Marathi and have resided in the state for at least 15 years.




The new taxi rules have given a new dimension to migrant politics in
the state since new migrants can not get taxi permits now. The government,
however, clarified that taxi drivers who already have permits and who hold a
valid licence, will not be affected by the decision.



A decision to
frame the new rules was taken a meeting of the state cabinet presided by Chief
Minister Ashok Chavan.



"It has been decided that henceforth licences
will be issued to only those taxi drivers who have been a resident of the state
for at least 15 years and can read and write Marathi," an official from the
Chief Minister's office said.



The Bombay Taximen's association, the oldest in the city, quickly condemned the decision with its secretary A L Quadros saying it was unacceptable and politically motivated.

A sizable section of over 2 lakh taxi drivers in Mumbai consists of migrants from
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. About 4,000 new taxi permits are given
each year.

"There is an attempt to make it (taxi services) an organized sector. The drivers should know Marathi, read Marathi and write Marathi. Such is the proposal of the government," Chavan told reporters.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray had been in the forefront of an anti-migrant campaign in the state last year and had come in for severe criticism from several political parties.


Retraction

Jan 20, MUMBAI: Under fire for his government's decision to give licenses only to those taxi drivers who know Marathi, Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Thursday backtracked, saying cab drivers should know any local language including Hindi and Gujarati.

Reaction to retraction

22 Jan,
मुंबई

हिंदी और गुजराती सहित किसी भी स्थानीय भाषा को जानने वाले लोगों को टैक्सी परमिट देने के महाराष्ट्र के मुख्यमंत्री अशोक चव्हाण के आज के बयान
के बाद शिवसेना और मनसे ने तीखी प्रतिक्रिया दी है। इससे पहले बुधवार को महाराष्ट्र कैबिनेट ने फैसला किया था कि मुंबई में टैक्सी का परिमट उसी को दिया जाएगा जो
मराठी जानता हो और राज्य में कम से कम 15 साल से रह रहा हो। एमएनएस सुप्रीमो राज ठाकरे ने चव्हाण की
टिप्पणी पर कहा कि सीएम को अपने रुख पर अटल रहना
चाहिए। राज ने कहा कि टैक्सी का नया परमिट मराठी युवाओं को नहीं मिला तो मुंबई की सड़कों पर एक भी टैक्सी
नहीं चलने देंगे। राज ने चव्हाण के बयान पर सवाल उठाते हुए कहा कि कि वह कैबिनेट के सामूहिक
फैसले को अकेले कैसे बदल सकते हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि सीएम कैबिनेट के फैसले को लागू करने में
सक्षम नहीं हैं। उधर, शिवसेना ने मुख्यमंत्री के अपने बयान से पलटी खाने की निंदा करते हुए कहा कि
उन्होंने महाराष्ट्र और मुख्यमंत्री के पद का महत्व कम किया है। पार्टी नेता संजय राउत ने कहा कि बयान पलटना मराठियों का अपमान है।