After immoral means to substantiate the local language, culture and traditions, adopted by regional political parties such as Maharashtra Navnirmaan' Sena (MNS) and Shivsena, now the Maharashtra government issues a reinforcement circular for the unethical rules of Taxi-drivers' eligibility criteria, comprising of the clauses like the mandatory domicile of 15 years with capabilities of reading, writing and speaking Marathi language! The rules have been in place since 1989, the circular seems to be an endeavor to cash in the divisive nature of Maharashtra demography, specially in present plight when the result of state assembly election has shown significant benefit for the radical MNS manifesto.
The social democratic country India, provides the citizens of it through the written constitution with the right of living, earning, practicing any religious activity throughout its length and breadth; the above rule clearly contradicts this framework of constitution and evokes hazard to numerous migrants chiefly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh by disallowing them blatantly, with the right of earning their livelihood while having the ability to read, write and speak the national language of India- HINDI! If Maharashtra government wishes to put in place convenience for local residents, they can introduce some basic training on a very few linguistic clauses used for handling the onus of a taxi driver and secondly, it's an open fact that almost everyone in Maharashtra knows Hindi, at least to the extent of using a cab-service! In the next few months, there will be approximately more than 4000 licenses issuance in the state of Maharashtra for Taxi drivers, now with these criteria in place, which provide a complete barricade to the numerous migrants, who knows their national language very well, what will be their fate?
According to our constitution, Marathis can also go to any part of the nation and they do migrate as well, may be to some lesser degree. If they think someone ELSE, is eating on their bread, they simply need to raise their skill-levels and compete in a fair environment rather than using immoral means like using violence against the migrants and openly mocking at our tolerant, inclusive, peaceful and cosmopolitan character of Indian culture. They should focus upon providing better access to the learning faculties of their local language, culture, traditions and to promote them with moral means, like mass awareness. Ironically, the Bollywood, which provides much of its glitter to Mumbai, the National economic capital (not only pertaining Maharashtra), is the "HINDI motion picture, music and arts' industry"! Providing ample amount of revenue as well as exposure to wealth and prosperity to the locals. Parties like MNS and Shivsena are ruining the fabric of country by dividing it on the basis of regional characters and thus weakening the strength of United India. Soon such flame would engulf other states as well, then how could the integrity of the nation be maintained? Congress is saying, no new rule is made or the older is amended but mere reinforcement of the rule is exercised, the simple question here erected is, whether Congress is in favor of such divisive, inhuman and a disastrous rule both for the directly affected poor migrants and the integrity of country? If no then they must have eliminated such rule rather than reinforcing it. If today I say, I am going to reinforce LTTE in Sri Lanka, am I not a culprit? I'd then say, I have neither amended nor framed a new beast, should it be a properly standing argument at all? Now when this is the plight of Nation's giant oldest political party, one can effortlessly ponder over the strategies of others.
If we don't wake up now, and act against such bigots, it won't be far away, when nation's integrity would fall broken in the hands of separatists like MNS chief, Naxalites, Kashmiri militants or Islamic radicals. Say no to injustice and eradicate the evil!
Devashish Narayana Mishra
