Raj Thackeray had called for "silencing" loudspeakers from the mosques by May 3
A police case has been filed against Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, for delivering a provocative speech ahead of Eid demanding the removal of loudspeakers from mosques by May 3.
Here are the Top 10 points in this big story:
The deadline over, the Maharashtra government, led by Raj Thackeray's cousin Uddhav Thackeray, has prepared for a massive face-off. The leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled in view of a possible law and order situation. Extra security has been kept in readiness,
Maharashtra police chief Rajnish Seth said the Aurangabad police commissioner will take appropriate legal action against Mr Thackeray. "The Aurangabad CP is looking into the speech. He will take whatever legal action that is needed today itself," Mr Seth told reporters.
"The Maharashtra police are capable of handling any kind of law-and-order situation. SRPF and Home Guards have been deployed in the state," Mr Seth said. "I appeal everyone to maintain peace," he added.
Raj Thackeray had called for "silencing" loudspeakers from the mosques by May 3. He also asked people to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques if loudspeakers there were not removed.
"I won't be responsible for what all happens after the May 3 deadline to remove the loudspeakers from the mosques," the MNS chief had said at a public rally in Aurangabad over the weekend.
Earlier today, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil and Mr Seth, along with senior police officers, reviewed the law-and-order situation in the state.
The head of the Aurangabad unit of MNS, Sumeet Khambekar, told reporters that "any orders of party chief Raj Thackeray will be followed", reported news agency Press Trust of India.
The face-off comes ahead of the civic elections in Maharashtra, in which the BJP is attempting to get the control of the Mumbai civic body Brihanmumbai Corporation, the richest in India. The Sena has accused the MNS of being the "B Team" of the BJP, attempting to cut into the Sena votes with its aggressive right-wing stance.
Mr Thackeray's deadline is an extension of the huge row over loudspeakers in mosques that is sweeping the country.
In BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, nearly 54,000 unauthorised loudspeakers have been removed from religious places following a government order.
