MUMBAI, April 25 -- Amid the tussle between unions and the state government after the latter's push for Marathi language proficiency among auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, the transport department declared on Friday about amending the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The change will require all drivers of public service vehicles - auto-rickshaws, kali-peeli cabs, bikes and aggregator cabs -- across the state to have knowledge of Marathi. The move has stoked politics over language again, with workers from the Raj Thackeray-helmed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) attacking Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam for standing by the drivers (many of whom are from northern and eastern parts of India) in Dahisar against the government diktat. On Friday, when Nirupam reached the Dahisar rickshaw stand to meet drivers MNS workers raised slogans against him for allegedly mobilising the drivers and opposing the government. The two sides clashed and MNS workers threw water bottles toward Nirupam and his men, and also punctured a tyre of his car. Police eventually intervened to separate the two groups. Supporting the state's rule, Amit Thackeray, Raj Thackeray's son, said any opposition "will compel party workers to teach them a lesson". "People living in Maharashtra should have a basic knowledge of Marathi, as also auto and taxi drivers. However, the transport department should give drivers time to learn the language and not start cancelling their permits for being unable to speak it starting May 1 (when the drive to test their Marathi skills begins)," Nirupam told HT. "We support the government's stand but oppose the hooliganism over the language issue." Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, said: "The transport minister's stand is in the interest of Marathi manoos, but he is facing opposition from the party as a section of leaders from Shiv Sena are against the official position. They are enemies of Maharashtra and Marathi." Transport commissioner Rajesh Narvekar submitted the proposal to amend the rules to the additional chief secretary of transport department on Thursday, following transport minister Pratap Sarnaik's push for knowledge of Marathi language. The process of issuing a draft notification is underway. "The proposed amendment will be made to rule 4, which deals with authorisation for driving a public transport vehicle; rule 78, which deals with additional conditions for a permit; and rule 85, which deals with license renewal," states the letter, a copy of which is with HT. The new rule will introduce provisions that would require authorities to assess an applicant's working knowledge of Marathi while granting permits. Licencing authorities will be empowered to verify applicants' knowledge of Marathi along with other background checks. Supporting the proposed amendment, transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said: "There is already a provision regarding the knowledge of Marathi language in the current rule. The amendment will give officials the authority and more clarity while issuing licences to drivers of auto-rickshaw, taxi, metered cab, app-based taxis and bikes."...