As the ultimatum given by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray over removal of loudspeakers from mosques comes to end today, he has shared a short clip of Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray in which he is seen saying that if his government comes to power, he will stop namaz on roads and will remove the loudspeakers from the mosques. Earlier, MNS chief had warned the Maha-Vikas Aghadi government to remove the loudspeakers blaring with azan by 4th May. He had also warned the government that if they failed to remove the loudspeakers from mosques then his men would play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside the mosques. Following this, heavy deployment of Mumbai Police was made across all sensitive locations. Considering the festival of Eid on May 3, MNS chief had postponed his plans to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers that day. He had repeatedly said that this loudspeaker issue is not a religious issue but a social issue with caused inconvenience to common people. Here are 10 big developments in the loudspeaker row.
10 developments in the loudspeaker row:
1. MNS chief, on Wednesday tweeted an old video of Hindu Hriday Samrat, Bala Saheb Thackeray. In the video Balsaheb Thackeray said in Marathi, "The day my government comes into power in Maharashtra, the offering of namaz will stop on roads. Religion should not come in the way of any development. If there are any Hindu rituals coming in the way of developments, we will look into that as well. Loudspeakers at mosque will be removed."
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) May 4, 2022
2. Reportedly, at Kalyan, most mosques kept their loudspeakers off during the morning azan. Mumbai Police also held meetings with the trustees of the mosques who agreed to keep their loudspeakers off during the morning azan in compliance with the Supreme Court order.
3. A video from Panvel showed an MNS worker saying that although they were prepared to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers but did not do so as mosques in the area kept loudspeakers off during the morning azan.
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4. In view of the situation, the government has cancelled leaves of Maharashtra police personnel and deployed forces in sensitive locations. Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey is on a round to various police stations to review the situation in the city, news agency ANI reported.
5. Aurangabad Police on Tuesday registered a case against Raj Thackeray for allegedly delivering a provocative speech.
6. On Tuesday evening, MNS chief repeated his warning to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques where loudspeakers have not been removed.
7. "I appeal to all Hindus that tomorrow, the 4th of May, if you hear the loudspeaker blaring with azaan; in those places, play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. That's when they will realise the hindrance of these loudspeakers," Raj Thackeray said.
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8. Raj Thackeray has repeatedly said that his protest against loudspeakers is not based on religious grounds but based on social grounds, as it leads to noise pollution and is against the Supreme Court's order.
9. Meanwhile, a special court on Wednesday allowed bail applications of independent politicians Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana. They were sent behind the bars for their plan to chant Hanuman Chalisa in front of Uddhav Thackeray's residence.
10. Municipal elections in Mumbai are around the corner and MNS chief's stand on loudspeakers has pitted him against his cousin Udhav Thackeray whose party controls the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). This confrontation is expected to benefit the BJP which is eying to wrest BMC(Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) from the Shiv Sena in upcoming elections.
