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- Published: May 4, 2022 12:24
New Delhi: With Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Raj Thackeray’s ultimatum to Uddhav government coming to an end, state administration has made extensive arrangements for keeping law & order in control. Heavy police presence, cancellation of their leaves and deployment of forces at sensitive places are some key measures undertaken by state govt.
Reiterating MNS supremo’s threat to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques, the party office-bearers today said that they were ready for the showdown.
Meanwhile, MNC chief Raj Thackeray posted an old video of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, in which he spoke against the use of loudspeakers from mosques. In the 36-second long video, Bal Thackeray could heard saying that “namaz offerings on roads will end when his govt comes to power in the state.”
“The day my government comes into power in Maharashtra, the 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,” Bal Thackeray said in Marathi.
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) May 4, 2022
Mumbai on alert amid loudspeaker row
A leading daily reports that many loudspeakers at mosques in Mumbai remained silent during morning azaan. In Panvel also, MNS workers were ready with loudspeakers but as the mosques didn’t blare out azaan, they didn’t play Chalisa.
The Azaan Vs Chalisa row has heated up political space in Maharashtra, with Raj Thackeray upping the ante while Maha Aghadi govt calling it an election gimmick by MNS & BJP.
‘No threat, only nautanki’
Sena’s Sanjay Raut said that the MNS threat was nothing but a nautanki.
“There is no protest in Maharashtra today…It was a one-day nautanki [drama]. Raat gayi, baat gayi,” Sanjay Raut was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
On May 1, Raj Thackeray addressed a rally in Aurangabad and urged people to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques if loudspeakers are not removed.