Pune: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray will perform a Maha Arti in Pune tomorrow 16th April on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti at 6 pm. The programme comes amid Raj Thackeray’s increasing calls to ban loudspeakers in mosques and the playing of Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers till his demand is met.
Raj Thackeray stand against loudspeakers in mosques has received mixed reactions in political spheres with a large number of leaders criticizing him for adopting a “communal” approach to revive his party.
Yesterday, MNS’ state secretary Irfan Shaikh quit the party in light of party president Raj Thackeray remaining firm on his pitch for the removal of high-decibel loudspeakers from mosques.In a letter to Thackeray, which he shared on Facebook, Shaikh said, “Time has come to say ‘Jai Maharashtra’ (good bye) if the party, which one worked for and considered as everything, takes a hateful stand against the community one comes from.”When it was formed, the MNS’ view was of engaging in casteless politics, he said.”Rajsaheb Thackeray was a ray of hope. But we got to see and hear something different during the Gudi Padwa rally,” Shaikh said, questioning why the MNS felt the need to follow the forces that “play politics of hate”.
In the letter, Shaikh said Thackeray became suspicious about azaan and mosques only after 16 years Since he was working with the MNS chief. Thackeray had on April 2 made a strong pitch for removing high-decibel loudspeakers from mosques. Addressing a rally at Shivaji Park, the MNS chief had also said that if such a step was not taken, loudspeakers would be installed outside mosques to play ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ at a higher volume.
