As a Marathi, my take on this auto-walas and Marathi fiasco:
If you're living in another state for a decade to earn your livelihood, knowing the local language enough to communicate with people is basic common sense. It's not that hard.
Your job literally involves driving an auto and interacting with Marathi people every day. So why not learn a few simple Marathi phrases that actually help you do your job?
Nobody is asking you to become fluent in Marathi. But showing arrogance toward locals and refusing to even make an effort will only create more resentment and, eventually, more hate.