Mumbai: The Maharashtra home department has decided to apply past court rulings banning the use of loudspeakers at religious places, following strong statements by MNS president Raj Thackeray on azaan. Religious organisations will now be required to request permission before using loudspeakers, according to the state government.
Maharashtra home minister Dilip Walse Patil will today hold a meeting with the director-general of police to instruct him to direct all police commissioners and officers on the decision, reported news agency ANI. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and home minister Patil will also meet to discuss the law and order situation in the state and the issue of the use of loudspeakers in public places, according to ANI.
Meanwhile, Nashik Police commissioner has issued a mandatory order to take permission for putting up loudspeakers and Maharashtra DGP has been directed to hold a review meeting with district administrations for implementing the order.
The fuzz, over the loudspeaker use, has been escalating after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader raised the pitch for Hindutva, calling on “Hindu brothers” to “be prepared” if loudspeakers are not removed from mosques by May 3.
However, on Sunday, Thackeray compelled that loudspeakers relaying the ‘azaan’ call is more of a social issue than a religious one. He told a media briefing in Pune that he doesn’t want peace in the society disturbed, “but if the use of loudspeakers continues then they (Muslims) will also have to listen to our prayers on loudspeakers”.
“On May 1, I will address a public gathering at Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). On June 5, I will visit Ayodhya for darshan along with MNS volunteers. I also appeal to others to come to Ayodhya,” Thackeray said.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
