Mumbai:
Security has been beefed up outside Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s residence for an open call to play Hanuman Chalisa over loudspeakers today after the Mumbai Police served a precautionary notice.
Aurangabad Police has registered a case against Thackeray after his Sunday speech over loudspeakers on Tuesday. The Thane Police issued notices to 1400 people who are “likely to disturb the peace of the city”.
Meanwhile, videos surfaced on social media, claiming that the Hanuman Chalisa was recited outside mosques during azaan at 5 am on Wednesday, as called by Raj Thackeray.
In the video that has surfaced, it can be clearly seen that at the same time when the azaan was going on in the mosque, at the same time many MNS workers performed Hanuman Chalisa and waved the MNS flag on the terrace in front of the mosque.
Hanuman Chalisa and its chant has created controversy after one in Maharashtra. However, it started with Raj Thackeray’s Gudi Padwa speech, where he gave a clarion call against loudspeakers in mosques and said that if these loudspeakers were not removed, his party workers would recite Hanuman Chalisa.
While he gave an ultimatum of May 3, he urged his workers to stay away from performing the Maha Aarti on Tuesday, as ‘the Muslim community should also celebrate its festival without any hindrance’. Eid was celebrated on 3 May, which was also the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
Raj Thackeray had tweeted on Monday so that no untoward incident takes place on Eid, “We don’t have to obstruct anyone’s celebration. The issue of loudspeakers is not a religious one, it is a social issue. What we have to do about it.” , it will be decided in future. I will give my views on this via a tweet tomorrow. That’s all for now.”
Thackeray, in an open letter, said, “However, on Tuesday he reiterated his call and appealed to the people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in areas where azaan is heard on May 4. The government had already been asked to remove loudspeakers by May 4. However, the government is very weak in this matter. Many people in our country are referring to the order of the Supreme Court. The use of loudspeakers in the name of religion definitely troubles the elderly, sick, children, students, and keeping this in mind, the Supreme Court has taken a decision.”
“Loudspeakers are unauthorized. In fact, many mosques are also unauthorized. How is it possible that the government has given authorized permission to unauthorized mosques to use loudspeakers? And if permission is being given, then Hindu temples also have loudspeakers. Basically it is not a religious issue but a social issue. People of every religion in this country are exposed to noise pollution.”
]]>
, International, ,