‘Will play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques’: Raj Thackeray speaks against prayers on loudspeakers

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has made a bold statement against the usage of loudspeakers for reading prayers in the mosques of the state, urging the Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra to put an end to this practice.

Thackeray said that the Maharashtra government needs to put an end to mosque loudspeakers or soon, “Hanuman Chalisa will play in loud volume” outside of the mosques. The estranged cousin of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that he is not against prayers, but speakers in mosques should not be allowed.

While addressing a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Raj Thackeray said, “I am not against prayers, but the government should take a decision on removing mosque loudspeakers. I am warning now...” He also said that he “takes pride in his own religion”, but this practice needs to stop.

मुंबईतील छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज पार्क येथे आयोजित 'गुढीपाडवा मेळाव्या'त महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेनेचे अध्यक्ष मा. श्री. राजसाहेब ठाकरे यांचे भाषण ऐकण्यासाठी उसळलेला प्रचंड जनसमुदाय.#गुढीपाडवा_मेळावा #MNSAdhikrut pic.twitter.com/6uExnfKeur

— MNS Adhikrut - मनसे अधिकृत (@mnsadhikrut) April 2, 2022

The political leader further added, “Why loudspeakers in mosques are played at such high volume? If this is not stopped, there will be speakers outside mosques playing Hanuman Chalisa at higher volume.”

Thackeray also took a dig at NCP chief Sharad Pawar and accused him of "playing the caste card from time to time and dividing society.” The MNS chief also took a shot at Uddhav Thackeray and the ruling Shiv Sena, which fell out with the BJP over the CM’s chair in the state.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah were saying that Devendra Fadnavis is going to be the next chief minister. Uddhav Thackeray was present on stage but he never mentioned any seat-sharing formula. Uddhav only brought it up when he realized that BJP could not form the government without his help (after 2019 elections),” Raj Thackeray said, as per PTI reports.

Further claiming that Pakistani supporters are residing in the places of worship, Thackeray urged PM Modi to take action and raid the Madarasas at the Muslim shanties. He said that the Mumbai Police “knows what is happening” and that the government is helping such people produce fake documents.

Alleging the Shiv Sena government, he said, “Mumbai Police knows what's happening there... Our MLAs using them for vote bank, such people don't even have Aadhar Card, but the MLAs get them made.”

(With PTI inputs)