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The Maharashtra government has defended its decision to make basic Marathi communication mandatory for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers across the state. BJP leader Haji Arfat Shaikh said the earlier 200-page guideline has now been reduced to a simple two-page booklet containing commonly used Marathi phrases. Drivers have reportedly been given time till August 15 to comply with the new rule. Transport Minister Pratap Baburao Sarnaik said the move is aimed at protecting Maharashtra’s culture and identity, while clarifying that drivers are only expected to know basic conversational Marathi required during work. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also backed the decision, saying non-Marathi speakers should learn the language while respecting India’s linguistic diversity. The issue has triggered fresh political debate in Maharashtra, with supporters calling it a cultural necessity while critics warn against language-based divisions.