Amid a fierce debate over MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s call for removal of loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Wednesday warned Raj that the MVA government would initiate stringent action against him if he took law into hands, created rift between the religions and vitiated the atmosphere in the in the state.
However, taking a calibrated stand on the contentious issue of removal of loudspeakers from atop mosques, the State Home Minister said: “It is not the responsibility of the government to either install or remove loudspeakers (from mosques). Whoever wants to install loudspeakers can do so by taking requisite permission from the police”.
Picking up the gauntlet thrown by Raj that the MNS chief that the MNS activists would play Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques five times a day—if the loudspeakers are not removed from the mosques by May 3, Walse-Patil said: “Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the government. For the last few days, an attempt is being made to disturb law and order in the state. We are serious about acting against such anti-social elements who are trying to disturb peace”. “On behalf of the state government, I am making an appeal that no one should attempt to take law into his or her hands, create rift between the religions and vitiate the atmosphere in the process. If someone indulges in such an act, the state government would initiate stringent action against the person concerned,” the State Home Minister said.
Walse-Patil of the NCP said that before taking action against those trying to disturb law and order in the state, he would convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
Addressing conference after the State Director General of Police (DGP) submitted a report on the implications of the MNS chief’s ultimatum for removal of loudspeakers from mosques Walse-Patil said: “I had asked State DGP to hold a meeting of senior police officers and review the situation arising out of the MNS chief’s call for removal of loudspeakers from mosques. Accordingly, the DGP held a meeting yesterday and submitted the review report to me today. I have had a detailed discussion with the DGP on the emerging situation in the state. I have given clear-cut instructions to the DGP to take stringent action against those trying to create a rift between communities and religions”.
Alluding to a question raised by the MNS chief as to why the state government had mandated the mosque management to install CCTV systems within their premises as done in the case of temples., the State Home Minister said: “We have not made installation of CCTV systems compulsory for any one. The temples have installed CCTV systems on their own from the point of view of security. If such CCTV systems are installed at other places of worship, we will not oppose or raise any objection to such a move. The places of worship can takeN decisions to this effect of their free will. The question of the state government interfering in their decision making process does not arise”.
It may be recalled that Raj had on Sunday exhorted the “Hindu brothers” across the country to prepare themselves to give a “fitting reply” to the Muslims – in the form of playing Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques five times a day—if the loudspeakers are not removed from the mosques by May 3.
Talking to media persons in Pune, the MNS chief had said: “Playing of Azan through loudspeakers from mosques is more a social issue than a religious issue. It is not just Hindus but people from all sections of the society get disturbed by the playing of azan through loudspeakers”
“I appeal to all the Hindu brothers across the country to give a fitting reply if the loudspeakers are not removed from mosques by May 3. We do not want any kind of riots in the country, but they (mosque management) should remove loudspeakers peacefully from the mosques. Otherwise, we will play Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques five times a day,” Raj had said.