The Maharashtra government's initiative to mandate the Marathi language for all licensed auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers has been postponed amid widespread criticism from political leaders in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan emphasized the importance of cultural diversity and warned against imposing language requirements that could restrict opportunities for non-Marathi citizens. Similarly, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad from the Janata Dal (United) party acknowledged the potential benefits for local residents but called for adequate time for existing drivers to learn the language. Sanjay Nishad, a minister in Uttar Pradesh, argued that while knowing a regional language is beneficial, making it mandatory is problematic without proper training arrangements. The Maharashtra government had initially set a deadline of May 1 for compliance but has since announced a 100-day verification period to allow drivers time to adapt. Opposition leaders, including Manoj Kumar Jha from the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Rajesh Kumar from the Congress party, criticized the mandate as a violation of federal principles and fundamental rights, warning that it could provoke regionalist sentiments. They stressed that imposing a language could disrupt communication and negatively impact migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who make up a substantial portion of the workforce in Maharashtra.