In a stinging rebuke apparently aimed at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut claimed there were attempts to jeopardise peace in Maharashtra through the 'new Hindu Owaisi'. "The people and police are peaceful here. Some people have a mission to provoke riots in name of Ram and Hanuman through the 'new Owaisi'...'Hindu Owaisi' of the state. We won't let that happen," he said, reported news agency ANI.Â
"I have not taken anybody's name. Whatever work the BJP made AIMIM's Owaisi do to win UP elections, the same is being asked from Maharashtra's new Hindu Owaisi," he said.
His comments came on the back of a press conference organised by Raj Thackeray, in which the latter reiterated his demands for a ban on loudspeakers in mosques. "We don't want riots in Maharashtra. No one has opposed the offering of prayers. But if you [Muslims] do it on loudspeaker, then we will also use loudspeakers for it. Muslims should understand that religion isn't bigger than the law. After May 3, I will see what to do," he said.
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.
