MNS chief Raj Thackeray shared a short clip of a speech delivered by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray years ago. In the 36-second long video, Bal Thackeray can be heard warning against the use of loudspeakers and saying that the offering of namaz “will stop on roads” once his “government comes into power in Maharashtra”.
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“The day my government comes into power in Maharashtra, [the offering of] namaz will stop on roads. Religion should not come in the way of any development. If there are any Hindu rituals coming in the way of developments, we will look into that as well. Loudspeakers at mosque will be removed,” Bal Thackeray said in Marathi.
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) May 4, 2022
Raj Thackeray shared the video amid the raging controversy over the use of loudspeakers in Maharashtra.
Earlier this month, Raj Thackeray demanded that loudspeakers at mosques in the state be removed by May 3, failing which, Hanuman Chalisa would be played at a higher volume outside such religious establishments.
Again, during the Aurangabad rally on May 1 (Sunday), Raj Thackeray asked people to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques from May 4 if loud removedspeakers there were not.
At Sunday’s rally in Aurangabad in the state’s Marathwada region, Raj Thackeray said during his speech that the Muslim community would see the “power of Maharashtra” if they did not understand the request on loudspeakers “nicely”.
“I won’t be responsible for what all happens after the May 3 deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques,” Raj Thackeray was quoted by news agency PTI as saying on Sunday.
Following this, an FIR was filed against him on Tuesday for his “inflammatory speech”. Aurangabad police registered a case against the MNS chief and the rally organizers under various IPC sections, including 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot),
Later on Tuesday, Raj Thackeray again appealed to all the Hindus, saying, “…if you hear the loudspeakers blaring with azan; in those very places, play the Hanuman Chalisa on the loudspeakers! That’s when they will realise the hindrance of these loudspeakers!”
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