Mumbai: There is an ongoing row over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s ultimatum to the state government to take down loudspeakers from mosques. Amid this, a poster posing threat to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut was put up outside Saamana’s office, on Saturday in Mumbai, news agency ANI reported. Saamana is the newspaper published by the Shiv Sena. “Whom did you call Owaisi? Sanjay Raut shut down your loudspeaker. Whole Maharashtra facing problem due to it, or else we will shut down your loudspeaker in MNS style,” the poster read.
The Owaisi remarks are made in the context of Sanjay Raut’s interview terming Raj Thackeray as Owaisi in Maharashtra for BJP. He implied that Raj Thackeray’s MNS is a ‘vote-katua’ in the state, like Owaisi’s AIMIM, was in the recent elections in Uttar Pradesh.
The loudspeaker row has added fresh fuel to the political turmoil of Maharashtra. All the Parties of the MVA government are standing united, opposing the demand of Raj Thackeray.
At the recent Gudi Padwa gathering, Raj Thackeray raised the demand for removing loudspeakers from mosques and threatened that if the loudspeakers are not removed, then his party will play Hanuman Chalisa outside the mosques. He has also given an ultimatum to the government to take the loudspeakers down by May 3.
This has triggered Muslim members of MNS. They have left the party. While the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has demanded compliance with the 2016 Bombay high court ruling on the removal of illegal loudspeakers installed at religious places.
Raj Thackeray should not be given importance said Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray said instead of taking down loudspeakers, they should be used to speak about rising inflation.
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.
