MNS calls off 'Maha Aarti' scheduled for Tuesday

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday instructed his workers not to organise a statewide Maha Aarti publicly on Tuesday. The move comes amid worries the MNS would push its demand for removal of loudspeakers from mosques after Tuesday.

Raj Thackeray tweeted a statement on Monday with his appeal to MNS workers. Raj Thackeray said he was calling off the planned Maha Aarti as the Muslim festival of Eid would be celebrated on Tuesday.

Last week, the MNS had announced plans for the Maha Aarti, which it would conduct at temples all over the state on May 3 to mark Akshaya Tritiya. The MNS said it would conduct the Maha Aarti in collaboration with Hindutva groups such as the VHP. It had said the Maha Aarti would involve use of loudspeakers. The MNS had said it would play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques from May 4 if loudspeakers were not removed from the Muslim shrines.