Loudspeakers In All Mosques In Maha Must Be Removed: Raj Thackeray
Mumbai: In the lead-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray reiterated his stance against loudspeakers on mosques, vowing to remove them if his party gains power. Campaigning across the state, Thackeray emphasized his commitment to enforcing uniformity in religious practices, citing his long-standing opposition to loudspeakers on mosques as a matter of public peace. Also Read: BJP Promises INR 2,100 Under Ladki Bahin, Farm Loan Waiver In Maha Poll Manifesto
“Loudspeakers that disturb people will not be allowed,” Thackeray declared. “If loudspeakers are at a temple and are on 365 days, remove them too. But they are not; people simply go to a temple, pray, and leave,” he added.
Thackeray noted his past protests, during which he proposed that MNS workers would recite the Hanuman Chalisa near mosques if loudspeakers were not removed. The protests, which took place when Balasaheb Thackeray’s son was Chief Minister, resulted in cases filed against 17,000 MNS members.
Thackeray further alleged that some Muslim leaders have been using mosque loudspeakers to urge votes for the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, raising concerns over the use of religious venues for political messaging. “Give me power, and I will ensure there’s not a single loudspeaker on any mosque in Maharashtra,” Thackeray asserted.
BJP’s Nitesh Rane Backs Thackeray’s Demand
Nitesh Rane, BJP candidate from Kankavli, voiced support for Thackeray’s position, describing the loudspeakers as a violation of a High Court order. Rane argued that laws applied to Hindus should equally govern all religious practices, asserting, “If one law is to apply to all religions, then the rules for Hindus must apply to others as well.”
Rane’s remarks reflect the BJP’s stance on enforcing consistency in the application of public order laws across communities, promoting the principle of “religious harmony” through equal adherence to legal standards.
Congress Responds with Condemnation
In contrast, Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole condemned Thackeray’s statement, citing the Constitutional right to religious freedom. Patole, the Congress candidate from Sakoli, defended the right of individuals to follow their faith practices, asserting that such freedoms should remain protected under Indian law.
Election Context
As Maharashtra gears up for the assembly polls on November 20, the demand to remove mosque loudspeakers has become a point of contention among parties. Thackeray’s outspoken stance, echoed by BJP ally Rane, contrasts sharply with Congress’s defense of religious freedoms, spotlighting debates over secularism, law enforcement, and the balance of communal rights in the run-up to the election.
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