'You will see Owaisi enter after Raj Thackeray': NCP chief warns of communal tension in Maharashtra

Maharashtra ruling party NCP chief Jayant Patil blamed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi for trying to create communal tension in the state. "There is a deliberate attempt to create communal tension in the state. In coming days, you will see entry of Owaisi in picture, after Raj Thackeray. It is an attempt to start communal rift, and untoward incidents in the state," he said, reported news agency ANI. 

Raj Thackeray, in his hawkish avatar, has been creating waves in Maharashtra. He had batted for the Uniform Civil Code and stressed the need for controlling population growth. He also reiterated his demand that loudspeakers on mosques be removed, giving an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to act before May 3. If the Shiv Sena-led state government did not remove loudspeakers from mosques before May 3, MNS workers will play the Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques, Thackeray threatened.

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Thursday said the government has taken a "serious" view of it and it will not let anyone vitiate the atmosphere in the state. Walse Patil's comment came a day after NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar slammed Thackeray for raking up the issue and said the state government will "think seriously" over the MNS chief giving an ultimatum to removing loudspeakers from mosques by May 3.

"The government has taken it seriously. The police are prepared for the upcoming festivals, including Hanuman Jayanti. We will not allow anyone to vitiate the atmosphere in this state," the minister told reporters. Walse Patil said a court decision is being referred to [by the MNS and BJP] while making the demand for removal of loudspeakers from mosques. "The court decision being referred to says nobody should use loudspeakers from 10pm to 6am at higher volume. The decibel levels have been decided. Hence, the court has not given any decision on removing loudspeakers on temples or mosques or other places which were installed with permission," he added.

Pawar said the people of the state must stand united to ensure communal harmony. Responding to a question, Pawar said Raj Thackeray, going by his recent speeches and statements, may be treading the path of Hindutva, but then went on add that one need not speak about a party that had been rejected soundly by people in polls.