'Take decision on removing loudspeakers of mosques', Raj Thackeray warns Maharashtra govt

"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 said.

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New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday (April 2, 2022) said that he is not against prayers but the government should take a decision on removing mosque loudspeakers.

The estranged cousin of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray asked the state government to remove loudspeakers or else he will put loudspeakers in front of the mosque and play Hanuman Chalisa.

"I am not against prayers, but the government should take a decision on removing mosque loudspeakers. I am warning now...," Raj Thackeray said at a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

मुंबईतील छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज पार्क येथे आयोजित 'गुढीपाडवा मेळाव्या'त महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेनेचे अध्यक्ष मा. श्री. राजसाहेब ठाकरे यांचे भाषण ऐकण्यासाठी उसळलेला प्रचंड जनसमुदाय.#गुढीपाडवा_मेळावा #MNSAdhikrut pic.twitter.com/6uExnfKeur — MNS Adhikrut - मनसे अधिकृत (@mnsadhikrut) April 2, 2022

"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," he added.

Raid Madarasas at Muslim shanties as Pakistani supporters are residing there

Raj Thackeray also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raid the Madarasas at the Muslim shanties and claimed that 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," he alleged.

Sharad Pawar dividing society

Thackeray also criticized NCP chief Sharad Pawar and accused him of "playing the caste card from time to time and dividing society".

He also took potshots at Uddhav Thackeray, whose party, the Shiv Sena, fell out with the BJP in 2019 over the chief minister's post and said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah were saying that Devendra Fadnavis is going to be the next chief minister. Uddhav Thackeray was present on stage but he never mentioned any seat-sharing formula. Uddhav only brought it up when he realized that BJP could not form the government without his help (after 2019 elections)."

The three parties in the government (Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) have "ignored people's mandate", he alleged. 

Meanwhile, Pawar has rejected Raj Thackeray's allegation that NCP plays "caste politics" and said that the MNS president never takes a consistent stand on any issue and remains in "hibernation" for three to four months a year which is his "speciality".

"On the contrary, NCP brings together people from all the castes. Raj Thackeray should have studied the history of NCP (before making comments)," Pawar said.

Replying to a question on the MNS chief's speech, Pawar took a swipe saying, "Raj Thackeray stays underground for three to four months and suddenly surfaces to give a lecture. This is his speciality. I don't know what he does for months".

Pawar said the MNS chief talks about many things but lacks a consistent stand.

"He spoke about NCP and caste politics. The fact is that 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.

(With agency inputs)