Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get rescinded the Maharashtra government’s decision that those applying for taxi permits should be a domicile of the state for 15 years.
“It has become a matter of deep concern for us and has anguished and alarmed the population of our state as well as the migrant population following the Maharashtra government’s decision,” Mr. Kumar said in a letter faxed to Dr. Singh, a copy of which was circulated to mediapersons here.
He said lakhs of people were driving taxies and other commercial vehicles in Maharashtra and they fulfil the basic needs of transportation as well as contribute to the economy of the state.
“Thousands more join this work force each year and most of them come from outside the state ... Maharashtra government’s decision will effectively debar people coming from outside the state and is not only against federal structure but also against the Constitution,” he said.
The decision will create barriers to free migration within the country, give rise to parochial tendencies and “is extremely dangerous for the integrity of our country”, the letter said.
“I request you, to take this problem head on so that fissiparous and divisive forces do not rear their head...The Centre should send an advisory to the Maharashtra government in this connection,” the chief minister demanded.
