Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday hit out at MNS chief Raj Thackeray for using the “language of ultimatums” and warned the latter against taking law into hand.
Talking to media persons after an all-party meeting called at the State-run Sahyadri Guest House review the situation arising out of the MNS chief’s call for removal of loudspeakers from mosques, Pawar – in his indirect criticism of Raj -- “The state government runs as per law, rules and Constitution. I advise people against using the language of ultimatums in Maharashtra. Here no one can conduct himself like a dictator”.
Pawar said that the Supreme Court’s order on loudspeakers was binding on all sections of the people. “Both the Centre and state government will implement the Supreme Court in their own respective ways. The state Home department will implement the Supreme court as per law. We will not go beyond what has been prescribed under law.
Appealing to all the sections of the society to cooperate with the state government in enforcing law and maintaining law and order, the deputy chief minister said: “I request to all leaders of various political parties and all sections of people to cooperate with the state government and ensure that there is communal harmony in the state,” he said. Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, who was present at the law and order review meeting, said that the Supreme Court ruling was applicable for all states. “Since 2017, the state government has been taking decisions as per the Supreme Couyrt order. “The implementation of the SC is continuing in the state. The state home ministry’s priority is to maintain law and order in the state.
I advise all not to speak in a manner that would result in strain between the various communitie. Law is equal for all. Nooneshould break the law”. Congress General Secretary Sachin Sawant said there were at least 2,400 Hindu temples in Mumbai which will not be able to use loudspeakers for their prayers and other rituals “The non-use of loudspeakers has also affected the much revered ‘kakad aarti’ at the famed Saibaba Temple in Shirdi (Ahmednagar),” he said.
Bhagyashree Banayat-Dhivare, CEO of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, said that contrary to certain media speculation, the Saibaba Temple had not discontinued the use of loudspeakers for its night and morning aartis.
The Saibaba temple CEO said that the temple place had brought down with decibel levels to 45db, as per the Supreme Court guidelines
Sawant said that besides Hindu temples, it will also affect religious prayers, discourses, kathas, or other events, by other communities in Christian churches, Sikh gurudwaras, Buddhist Viharas, Jain derasars, et al.
“In a meeting with the police, representatives of all religions have opposed the MNS stance… The MNS’s insanity and self-serving stand along with the Bharatiya Janata Party support are damaging not only to the majority community, but also for the image of a progressive state like Maharashtra,” Sawant said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra by and remained peaceful, as the MNS decided to continue its agitation on a long-term basis on the ground that it’s a social and not a religious issue.
“Of the total 2,404 temples and 1140 mosques in Mumbai, only 20 temples and 922 mosques have taken police permission for loudspeakers.
A majority of the mosques have already stopped relaying ‘azans’ on public address systems. However, some 2,200 temples and 222 mosques will not be able to use loudspeakers,” Sawant said. Sawant said that at a meeting with the police, representatives of all religions hadopposed the MNS stance… “The MNS’s insanity and self-serving stand along with the Bharatiya Janata Party support are damaging not only to the majority community, but also for the image of a progressive state like Maharashtra,” Sawant said.
Replying to a question, Pawar said that the ban on loudspeakers would hurt Hindus than Muslims. He said that all those flouting the loudspeakers would be punished severely.