1.5 Million Rickshaw Drivers Won’t Participate in Strike : Dr. Baba Kamble
Pune : Dr. Baba Kamble, founder president of the Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat and a prominent labour leader, has asserted that the proposed rickshaw drivers’ strike on May 4 will be a “complete flop,” dismissing claims that 1.5 million drivers across Maharashtra will participate.
He stated that misleading information is being spread to create confusion, clarifying that no major rickshaw union in the state has extended support to the strike. Both the Auto Taxi Drivers Owners Joint Action Committee and the Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat have strongly opposed the bandh.
Dr. Kamble emphasized that opposing the Marathi language while living in Maharashtra amounts to disrespecting the state’s cultural identity. He added that the majority of rickshaw drivers in Maharashtra are Marathi-speaking and fully support their mother tongue, rejecting claims on social media that portray them as anti-Marathi.
He further alleged that the issue is not limited to language but is linked to a larger “bogus permit scam.” According to him, thousands of rickshaw permits have been obtained using fake birth and school certificates by outsiders. Cases related to such irregularities have already been registered in Pimpri-Chinchwad, he said, demanding a thorough investigation.
Highlighting the broader cultural context, he noted that Maharashtra’s legacy—from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and the saints has always upheld the importance of Marathi, and the movement for a united Maharashtra was also rooted in the language.
Dr. Kamble also appealed to media organizations to report responsibly, stating that claims of mass participation in the strike are not based on facts and may mislead the public.
“If you want to drive a rickshaw in Maharashtra, you must know Marathi. Those opposing the language and those involved in bogus permit practices will be taught a lesson by rickshaw drivers.”
– Dr. Baba Kamble
