Continuing his agitation for the cause of 'Marathi Manoos' (sons of the soil), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday said that jobs in Maharashtra should be provided only to those who were born in the state.
"Just because one can write, read and speak Marathi does not entitle him to local jobs...For getting jobs in Mumbai, one has to be a Maharashtrian by birth. Just the knowledge of reading and writing the language will not do," he said at a party meeting in Mumbai.
The MNS chief also criticised party members for distributing Marathi alphabet books to north Indian taxi drivers last week. "Think over the type of protest you were undertaking. Who told you to teach them Marathi?" Raj said.
The MNS transport wing had distributed Marathi alphabet books to the taxi drivers, giving them a deadline of 40 days to learn the language.
Thackeray's latest statement is expected to spark more controversy as the MNS chief will be on a statewide tour, starting February 13, to reach out to the masses. Over 80 offences have already been registered against him in and outside the state for his violent agitation against the residents of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Thackeray's statement comes at a time when the Maharashtra politics is feeling the heat over the issue of giving taxi permits to Marathis. The MNS chief has already insisted that about 4,500 new taxi permits in Mumbai should be given to Maharashtrians by birth.
He dared the state government that his party would not allow a single taxi to hit the Mumbai roads if Marathi Manoos are not given new taxi permits.
