Raj Thackeray bats for Marathi schools, meets Ashok Chavan

MNS chief Raj Thackeray today met Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and took up the issue of Marathi schools and presented a list of proposals rejected by the state government during the last three years.

"Not a single Marathi school has been started in the state since 2008. The proposals submitted to the government were rejected. English schools are given immediate permission then why not Marathi schools," Raj told reporters here after a meeting with Chavan at his official residence 'Varsha'.

"It is shocking that the proposals for Marathi schools from known educational organisations were also not approved by the government," he said.

Pressing his 'priority to sons of soil' agenda, Raj demanded taxi licenses to Marathi youths only.

"Marathi youths should be given licenses to drive taxis in order to provide them with a means of livelihood," he said after submitting a memorandum to Chavan on both the issues.

The government has permitted private companies to start services like fleet taxis for which it is approving driving licenses.

"The owner of the company may be anyone but the drivers should be appointed among from Marathi youth and they also must be trained for the job," Raj said.