In a dilution of his earlier stand a day ahead of the stipulated deadline for “compliance” of his call for removal of loudspeakers from mosques, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said that he did not want to cause any “hindrances” from celebrating Ramzan Ed on Tuesday.
In line with an indication he had given at a public rally that he addressed on Sunday at Aurangabad where he said that “Hanuman Chalisa” will be played at a louder volume than azaan in front of the mosques, the MNS chief said: “Eid is being celebrated tomorrow. The Muslim community should also celebrate their festivities without any
hindrances”.
“I have already mentioned this in my Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) rally, I appeal to `Maharashtra Sainiks’ not to perform Maha-Aaratis on the auspicious occasion o0f Akshyaya Tritya which will also be celebrated tomorrow. We do not intend to cause any hindrances or obstacles to any religion during the festivities,” Raj said in a statement put out on his twitter handle.
“The loudspeaker issue is NOT RELIGIOUS ONE: IT IS A SOCIAL ISSUE with related INCONVENIENCE. Regarding the loudspeaker issue, I will further notify what we intend to do via social media,” Raj said in his statement.
It may be recalled that on April 17, the MNS chief had 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.
At a rally he addressed at Marathwada Samajik Mandal ground in Aurangabad on Sunday evening, Raj said: “Today is May 1 and Eid is on May 3. I don’t want issues during their festival. But from 4th, we will not listen. I have requested all my Maharashtra Sainiks to play Hanuman Chalisa loudly in front of all the places where loudspeakers are played. If you can’t understand even after requesting, then we have no other option left. Loudspeakers are
not allowed in your
religion”.
At the rally, Raj warned Muslims that if they were to do nuisance by playing azaan on loudspeakers from mosques, “we will recite and play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques”.
Reiterating that he did not want incite riots in Maharashtra, he told his party gathered at his rally: “Muslims too need to understand that very well. Earlier also I had said that loudspeaker is not a religious issue but a social issue. If you are giving a religious colour to the loudspeaker topic, then we will have to answer with religion. If loudspeakers can be removed in Uttar Pradesh, why the same could not be done in Maharashtra? The Supreme Court has said that loudspeakers cannot be installed or played without permission from local police. Not even a single mosque in the state has obtained such a permission from the police”.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Chief Spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said the loudspeakers issue was being raised by the Opposition BJP and its ‘sister concerns’ to divert the country’s attention from unemployment, high inflation, Chinese intrusions into Indian territory and other burning issues.
“Ravan has taken possession of the Opposition today. Ravan’s end came due to arrogance. The Opposition should first destroy the Ravan inside them and then talk about Maharashtra,” Raut said curtly.
Averring that Raj’s attempts to spoil social harmony in Maharashtra would jeopardize investments and job creation efforts, State Congress president Nana Patole asked the MVA government to take “stern action” against the MNS chief for attempts to create hurdles in celebrating Ramzan Eid, which is in violation of the Constitution.
“The BJP is using Raj as a shield to hide the Centre’s failures on all fronts…And after losing power in the state, the local BJP leaders have lost their sleep. Unfortunately in his speech, Raj harped on loudspeakers but didn’t utter a single word on the massive problems confronting the nation,” Patole said.
NCP Chief Spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said if Raj had served deadlines to end ‘unemployment, inflation, illiteracy’ or other burning problems plaguing the country, it would have been welcomed wholeheartedly. “But, he is dancing like a puppet to BJP’s tunes and fomenting troubles for the people. Keeping harmony is our responsibility and hence persons like Raj who are attempting to create disturbances for their selfish political motives must be totally ignored,” Tapase said.
Several other political leaders, including State SP President Abu Asim Azmi, SSS President Raju Shetti, SB President Pravin Gaikwad, VBA leaders, Ministers Balasaheb Thorat, Dilip Walse-Patil, Dr. Jitendra Awhad and Chhagan Bhujbal came down heavily for “misleading” the people of the state and attempting to drive a wedge between the communities.