Mumbai, January 22: A day after it won the Opposition’s approval for taking a decision favouring the ‘sons of the soil’, the Ashok Chavan-led state government was at the receiving end of the Opposition’s ire.
Chavan’s flip-flop on granting taxi permits only to domiciled residents of Maharashtra, who can read and speak Marathi, drew criticism from the Opposition. “We strongly protest this U-turn by the government,” Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said.
“The decision taken yesterday was taken by CM Ashok Chavan and his cabinet. Today’s decision has been taken by Congress leader Ashok Chavan.
” The Bharatiya Janata Party also criticised Chavan although it never agreed with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and it’s ally’s agenda for the Marathi manoos. “The government should not go back on its promise to give job opportunities to the locals,” said party General Secretary Vinod Tawde.
Sources said the Congress’ central leadership was unhappy with Chavan’s decision. The party was left red-faced after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav flayed the move.
Yadav called it “unconstitutional” and Kumar demanded that the PM get the move rescinded.
—Agencies