Loudspeaker row: Earlier on Wednesday, Raj Thackeray had reiterated his protest against loudspeakers.
Nashik:
A total of 150 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Party workers were arrested in Maharashtra’s Nashik district for creating “communal tensions” in the district, local police officials said.
The arrests are part of ‘preventive actions’ taken by state police to maintain law and order amid calls by MNS chief Raj Thackeray to play Hanuman Chalisa on a loudspeaker outside mosques.
“So far 150 MNS workers have been arrested for creating tensions in the communities in Nashik. Preventive measures are being taken against those involved in such activities. Police have been deployed in all sensitive areas to maintain order and tranquility said Inspector BG Shekhar Patil. General of Police, Nashik on Wednesday.
On the issue of removing illegal loudspeakers, IGP said: “We are taking action according to the rules laid down in the law. If a loudspeaker is in use without authorization from the authorities, action will be taken against it.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Raj Thackeray reiterated his protest against loudspeakers, saying that “Hanuman Chalisa will continue to be played outside mosques until the government acts and addresses the issue in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines on loudspeakers.”
“To my knowledge there are more than 1140 mosques in Mumbai. Of these, 135 mosques played azaan at 5 a.m. and violated the guidelines. We want peace in the state. I want to ask the police, you only take action against our workers. My point is that all illegal loudspeakers should be removed from mosques, until they are removed we will continue our agitation,” Raj Thackeray said.
The MNS chief further said: “It is not just about mosques, there are several temples where illegal loudspeakers are playing. I have already made it clear that it (illegal loudspeakers) is not a religious issue, but a social one.”
“MNS leaders will continue to play Hanuman Chalisa outside of mosques during Azaan’s time until all illegal loudspeakers are removed,” he added.
The argument over loudspeakers started when the head of the MNS issued an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government on April 12 to remove the loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, failing which, he warned, MNS staff Hanuman Chalisa will play on loudspeakers.
A case was brought against Raj Thackeray on Tuesday when he called on people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in the areas where loudspeakers are used for ‘Azaan’.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
