Several mosques in and near Mumbai kept loudspeakers off during azaan this morning following a threat by Raj Thackeray, chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers wherever azaan is recited on them.
Taking no chances, the Maharashtra government has made extensive preparations to maintain law and order. Leaves of police personnel have been cancelled and forces deployed in sensitive locations.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey is on a round to various police stations to review the situation in the city, news agency ANI reported.
Aurangabad Police has registered a case against Mr Thackeray for allegedly delivering a provocative speech two days ago. Mumbai Police have issued a notice to the MNS chief under Section 149 of CrPC, invoked to prevent a cognizable offence.
Here are the LIVE Updates on Loudspeaker Row:
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday said that playing Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques will continue till the time the government acts and address the issue in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines on loudspeakers.
The MNS chief further said: "It's not only about mosques, there are several temples where illegal loudspeakers are running. I have already made it clear that it's (illegal loudspeakers) not a religious issue but a social issue."
"Don't Teach Us...": Sena's Response To Raj Thackeray's Balasaheb TweetShiv Sena MP on Wednesday asserted that there was no violation of loudspeaker guidelines in Maharashtra and said no one should teach Hindutva to his party.
"I have been receiving calls from several parts of the state and outside. At many places, my party's workers have been detained and issued notices. Those who are following the law are being detained and those who don't are going scot-free," Raj Thackeray told the media. He said the issue is "not only about mosques and there are several temples with illegal loudspeakers".
Shiv Sena MP on Wednesday asserted that there was no violation of loudspeaker guidelines in Maharashtra and said no one should teach Hindutva to his party.
Without taking names of the BJP and MNS, Mr Raut said that people do not take cognisance of people who, with the support of "pseudo Hindutvawadis", conspire against the Shiv Sena.
Notably, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has been targeting the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and has given a call for "silencing" loudspeakers atop mosques.
Watch: Raj Thackeray Shares Bal Thackeray Video, Doubles Down In Loudspeaker RowAmid high tension in Mumbai over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's ultimatum to the state government to remove loudspeakers from mosques, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut today said that there is peace in Maharashtra and no protest is happening in the state. The MNS chief had on April 12 given an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, failing which, he warned, MNS workers will play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. He had reiterated his warning recently.
Loudspeaker Row: Raj Thackeray Party Workers Detained Outside His Mumbai HomeMumbai police on Wednesday detained a number of MNS workers gathered outside party chief Raj Thackeray's residence here, a day after the latter urged people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers.
Maharashtra: Police detains Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Secretary Ajay Shinde along with six others after they perform Maha Aarti in Khalkar Hanuman Mandir in Pune pic.twitter.com/ydWGER2p4R
- ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2022
In Mumbai there are a total of 1,140 Mosques of whom as many as 135 used loudspeakers before 6am today. Appropriate action should be taken against these 135 mosques that went against the orders of the Supreme Court of India: Maharashtra Home Department
- ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2022
Maharashtra | Situation is under control. Many Mosques did not play morning Azaan on loudspeaker voluntarily, following SC guidelines. 2500 security personnel were deployed across the city to maintain law & order:Police Commissioner Pune Amitabh Gupta pic.twitter.com/DF845au1kd
- ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2022
The face-off between Raj Thackeray's party and the state government helmed by his cousin Uddhav Thackeray comes ahead of the civic elections in Maharashtra, in which the BJP is attempting to get the control of the Mumbai civic body.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claimed that no illegal loudspeakers are functional in the state anymore.
"No illegal loudspeakers running in the state... Bal Thackeray & Veer Savarkar are the ones who taught Hindutva to the country. Shiv Sena's school of Hindutva is original," Sanjay Raut said.
Amid high tension in Mumbai over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's ultimatum to the state government to remove loudspeakers from mosques, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut today said that there is peace in Maharashtra and no protest is happening in the state. The MNS chief had on April 12 given an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, failing which, he warned, MNS workers will play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. He had reiterated his warning recently.
At Kalyan, most mosques kept loudspeakers off during the morning azaan. Police had held meetings with the trustees of the mosques who had said that they will keep loudspeakers off during the morning prayers as per a Supreme Court order.
Maharashtra | Navi Mumbai's Sanpada Police detained the city head of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Yogesh Shete, amid the loudspeaker row pic.twitter.com/QGUApiY0lA
- ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2022
- Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) May 4, 2022
