Nitish asks PM to get Maharashtra govt's decision rescinded

Patna, Jan 21 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
Thursday asked Indian 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rescinded the Maharashtra government's decision that those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," Kumar said in a letter faxed to Singh, a copy of
which was circulated to mediamen here.
He said lakhs of people were driving taxies and other
commercial vehicles in the western state of Maharashtra and
they fulfill 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," he demanded. PTI AJK