A day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray objected to the use of loudspeakers at mosques and threatened to counter it in his own style, his party workers on Sunday played Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside the party office in Kalyan town of Thane district. The MNS workers also raised slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' as they gathered outside the party's office at Sai Chowk. The move by MNS workers to play Hanuman Chalisa has been criticized by the top leaders of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut went on to allege that Raj Thackeray's speech was scripted and sponsored by theBJP.
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1. "Why loudspeakers in mosques are played at such high volume? If this is not stopped, there will be speakers outside mosques playing Hanuman Chalisa at higher volume," Raj Thackeray had said on Saturday.
2. Asking PM Modi to order raids on Madrasas, Raj Thackeray said: “I appeal to PM Modi to raid the Madrasas at the Muslim shanties. Pakistani supporters are residing in these shanties. Mumbai Police knows what’s happening there…Our MLAs using them for vote bank, such people don’t even have Aadhar Card, but the MLAs get them made.”
3. Taking a cue from the MNS supremo, party workers played Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in Kalyan in a symbolic protest against the use of loudspeakers at the mosques. Another MNS worker Mahendra Bhanushali was detained by Mumbai Police after he played Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeaker, stationed at a tree in Himalaya society in Asalfa, Chandivali.
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4. Reacting to Raj Thackeray's Saturday speech, Sanjay Raut said the law of the land prevails in Maharashtra. "Raj Thackeray was talking about taking down the loudspeakers installed in mosques yesterday. First, see in which all BJP ruled states Azaan has been stopped, loudspeakers removed from mosques. This is Maharashtra, where law of the land is followed,” he said. Raut also said that MNS chief's speech was scripted and sponsored by BJP.
5. MNS chief's remarks was also criticised by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP chief Pawar, Supriya Sule, Congress' Nana Patole, Ashok Chavan, Atul Londhe, ex-Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar.
