Measures designed to protect and promote the rights and interests of the local inhabitants of the State are unobjectionable. The criterion should be the economic condition of the persons sought to be benefitted and not the language spoken in the State. Besides the means for achieving these ends should be lawful and legitimate. The ultimatum issued by MNS supremo Raj Thackeray to taxi drivers to speak and write in Marathi coupled with the threat of they not being allowed carry on their lawful occupation if they do not comply, is tantamount to criminal intimidation. It smacks of fascism. It is patently unconstitutional because it unreasonably restricts the fundamental rights of taxi drivers to carry on their occupation. This fascist trend, if not uprooted, can extend to other areas and will lead to divisiveness which is anathema to the culture and spirit of a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai.
Inaction of the Maharashtra government, verging on acquiescence, is distressing. If unconstitutional activities by extra-constitutional authorities are not curbed stringently, the authority of the State will be undermined and Rule of Law will be subverted. Electoral considerations should not prevent the State government from acting swiftly before it is too late.
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