Autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai began a three-day strike on MondayMUMBAI: A section of autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai on Monday staged protests and began a three-day strike against the Marathi language requirement for auto-rickshaw, taxi and cab drivers, with non-Marathi-speaking drivers saying the directive would put an additional financial burden on them. Drivers staged a roadblock on Kandivli Link Road, opposing what they described as a mandatory requirement to know Marathi.

“We are 55-60-year-olds. We have never been to a school.

How can we speak Marathi? Had we been educated, we would have been sitting in an office,” one driver said.

“Can we pay Rs 15,000-20,000 as fine? We will do this three-day strike until justice is done,” he said.

PollShould language proficiency be a requirement for auto-rickshaw drivers in Mumbai? Yes, it ensures better communicationNo, it's unfair to non-Marathi speakersIt depends on the driver's experience3k+ users shared opinion today 5k+ users already voted today Share OpinionThe protest comes amid growing opposition among a section of transport workers to the language directive, with drivers demanding that authorities reconsider the requirement and penalties linked to it.