Maharashtra govt's move on taxi license unconstitutional: Lalu

Terming Maharashtra government's move to issue new taxi licenses to only those who are well versed in Marathi and have resided in the state for at least 15 years as "unconstitutional", RJD chief Lalu Prasad today asked prime minister Manmohan Singh to ensure that the decision got revoked.

"It is a highly objectionable, unfortunate and unconstitutional decision," Prasad told reporters reacting to the decision taken at a meeting of the Maharashtra cabinet presided by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

A sizeable section of over two lakh taxi drivers in Mumbai consists of migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and the decision could have an adverse fallout on those from these states wanting to earn a living driving taxis.

About 4,000 new taxi permits are given each year. Prasad sought immediate intervention of the prime minister in the matter and get the decision revoked.

The former railway minister also hit out at Congress. "(With the decision) It appears that the grand old party too has started toeing the path of Bal Thackeray and Raj Thackerary."

"According to the Indian Constitution, people of the country can go anywhere for jobs, work, and stay... Taxi driving is a lucrative profession in Mumbai and the decision will render lakhs of taxi drivers from elsewhere jobless," he said.