Raj Thackeray maintains provocative tempo; MNS workers chant Hanuman Chalisa near mosque in Mumbai
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Mumbai: Keeping his vow to play Hanuman Chaisa against Muslim prayer calls - azan - via loud speakers, Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers played Hanuman Chalisa on a loudspeaker near a mosque in Charkop area of Mumbai on Wednesday morning.
The MNS chief had given exhorted people on Tuesday to recite the religious hymn as a protest against against loudspeakers giving azan, if using loudspeakers was not stopped for azan in mosques by May 3.
The use of loudspeakers for azan from mosques has been a hot and sensitive issue in Maharashtra, particularly in the wake of Raj Thackeray's calls to counter it by the Hanuman chalisa. Court verdicts also have been issued in the past for any use of loudspeakers beyond a set level of decibels of sound. but that would apply to sound emanating from any place of worship.
A video with Wednesday's protest incidents showed an MNS worker, holding the party flag, and playing Hanuman Chalisa on a loudspeaker from a high-rise. The azan could also be heard coming from a loudspeaker of a nearby mosque in the background.
Originally a breakaway party from the Shiv Sena which leads Maharashtra's current ruling alliance, led by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, MNS and its leader Raj Thackeray have been in the forefront of opposition to the use of loudspeakers in mosques, as a political tool to oppose the ruling front.
Its leader Raj Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray has been at loggerheads with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray ever since the succession battle for the party's leadership started between the two.
Raj Thackeray consistently plays up Hindutva themes, against the ruling alliance, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a stance for which he enjoys the backing of Maharashtra's BJP too, which fell out with Shiv Sena and the latter aligned with the state's Congress Party and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by former Congress leader, and former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar.
In Thane city close to Mumbai, MNS activists played Hanuman Chalisa on a loudspeaker at a spot in Indira Nagar, but no mosque is located in the vicinity.
Undeterred by the registration of a case against him, MNS president Raj Thackeray had on Tuesday urged people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers on Wednesday wherever they heard loudspeakers "blaring azaan (Islamic prayer call)".
To further widen the impact of his provocative call , Raj Thackeray in an open letter, had asked people to lodge complaints with police by dialling 100 if they are disturbed by the sound of 'azaan'.
"I appeal to all Hindus that on May 4, if you hear the loudspeaker blaring azaan; in those places, play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. That's when they will realise the hindrance of these loudspeakers," the MNS leader had said.
In preparation to handle possible aftermath of Thackeray's incitement, police have already beefed up security in Mumbai and several other parts of the state, especially where the MNS has a sizeable presence.
(Basedo on PTI feed with edits)