Maha govt's order on auto drivers 'anti-democracy': NCP

NCP today condemned as "anti- democracy and unconstitutional" the Maharashtra government's order which says only Marathi-speaking people would be allowed to get permits for new auto rickshaws from November 1 and sought its withdrawal.
Appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and ensure that the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra withdraws the order issued on Tuesday, NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar said it is against the North Indians and will render the poor people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh unemployed.
"Will the Prime Minister tell us? Does Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas means this," the Lok Sabha MP from Katihar in poll-bound Bihar asked.

Anwar said that the Maharashtra government is considering itself above law and Constitution, which is "unfortunate for democracy".
"Maharashtra government should immediately withdraw it and seek and apology from people," he said, adding that India is a multi-lingual country and everybody has a right to speak any language and work in any state.
In a controversial move, Transport Minister Diwakar Raote, a Shiv Sena member in the Devendra Fadnavis Ministry, had announced that the government decided to issue quite a large number of autorickshaw permits and the only conditions for applicants is that they should speak Marathi and should be residents of respective localities for 15 years.