Remove loudspeakers in mosques demands Raj Thackeray; 'scripted by BJP', retorts Raut
Raj Thackeray, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief on Saturday (April 2), warned the state government that if they do not remove the loudspeakers from mosques, he would put “loudspeakers in front of the mosques and play the Hanuman Chalisa”.
Addressing the MNS party workers at a rally in Shivaji Park, Thackeray said that he is not against prayers and that people can pray in their homes. But the government should take notice of his warning and remove mosque loudspeakers.
“Why loudspeakers in mosques are played at such high volume? I am warning now… Remove loudspeakers or else will put loudspeakers in front of the mosque and play Hanuman Chalisa,” he threatened.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday (April 3), hit out at Raj Thackeray for demanding that loudspeakers on mosques should be shut down. He said the MNS chief’s speech was “scripted and sponsored” by BJP. The Sena chief spokesperson asked if ‘Azan’ on loudspeakers had been stopped in BJP-ruled states and added that the rule of law prevails in Maharashtra.
In his speech at Shivaji Park, Thackeray had also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raid the madrasas at the Muslim shanties since Pakistani supporters were residing in these shanties.
Also read: ‘Low-grade politics, not Hindutva’: Uddhav, KCR hit out at BJP
According to the Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s estranged cousin, the Mumbai Police knows what’s happening there… “Our MLAs are using them for vote bank, such people don’t even have Aadhar Card, but the MLAs get them made,” he alleged.
Sharad Pawar dividing society
Thackeray also attacked NCP chief Sharad Pawar and accused him of “playing the caste card from time to time and dividing society”. He is responsible for the rise of casteist politics in Maharashtra after the formation of his party in 1999, alleged Raj Thackeray.
Since NCP was formed, casteism has been on the rise in the state, he said, adding that it was Pawar’s doing. Pointing out that NCP has always done politics on the basis of caste and has created a divide among people, he asked that if we don’t come out of the caste politics, then how will become Hindu? And, which flag of Hindutva would we hold? he added provocatively.
Reacting to his statement about NCP ushering in casteism in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar slammed the MNS president for not taking a consistent stand on any issue. He remains in “hibernation” for three to four months a year which is his “speciality”, he added.
According to Pawar, the question of linking NCP with casteism does not arise since Chhagan Bhujbal, and Madhukarrao Pichad among others had worked as the Leader of the House of NCP. “Everybody knows which communities they belong to,” the former Union minister said.
