MNS chief Raj Thackeray — whose call for removal of loudspeakers from mosques has triggered a massive “Hanuman Chalisa” controversy in Maharashtra by May 3 — on Thursday congratulated Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for removing loudspeakers from the religious place of his state, “specially the masjids”.
In a statement put out in Marathi and English on twitter and Facebook, Raj said: “I wholeheartedly congratulate and stand grateful to the Yogi Government for having removed loudspeakers, specially the masjids (mosques)”.
“Unfortunately in Maharashtra, there are no such ‘Yogis’ (hermits), but only ‘Bhogis’ (hedonists). Here’s hoping and praying good sense prevails, “Raj said.
The MNS chief was reacting to news reports originating from Lucknow quoting the UP government that it had removed over 10,900 “illegal” and “unauthorised” loudspeakers across the state by 4.30 pm on Wednesday following directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to implement guidelines laid down by courts on the issue.
Raj’s statement came ahead of his public rally organised at Aurangabad on May 1 to galvanise his party cadres to carry out his threat of reciting “Hanuman Chalisa” in front of mosques five times a day in loudspeakers are not removed from mosque by the stipulated deadline of May 3.
Meanwhile, preparations are going in full swing to ready the Samnkritik Mahamandal ground at Aurangabad for Raj’s public rally on May 1. Interestingly enough, the MNS workers began to make preparations for their president’s rally at the ground even before they Aurangabad Police Commissioner granted them necessary permission to hold the rally at the Samnkritik Mahamandal ground.
However, the grant of permission for Raj’s rally is a mere formality considering that Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil himself indicated on Wednesday that the Aurangabad Police Commissioner would be giving a go-ahead for Raj’s public rally on May 1.
The MNS workers are readying a massive stage admeasuring 30 feet X 60 feet and a 50 feet D-Space area in front of the state. They have called for 15,000 chairs for the audiences, while the organisers are making a sitting arrangement for another 5,000 people on the ground. They have already procured 20,000 flags and organised invitation yatras for the May 1 public rally.