Raj Thackeray, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader, said he would play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers where azaan was recited this morning. Several mosques in and near Mumbai turned off their loudspeakers during the azaan this morning.
Here are the top ten developments in this massive story:
- During the morning azaan in Kalyan, most mosques turned down loudspeakers. Police met with the trustees of the mosques, and they said that they would keep the loudspeakers off during the morning prayers because the Supreme Court had been told that they should.
- In a video from Panvel, an MNS worker said they were ready to play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers, but they didn’t play it because three mosques in the area turned off their loudspeakers during morning prayers.
READ MORE: Raj Thackeray Reiterates the May 3 Deadline for Removal of Loudspeakers from Mosques
- Taking no chances, the Maharashtra government has made many plans to keep law and order. Leaves for police officers have been cancelled, and extra forces have been sent to dangerous places.
- The police in Aurangabad, India, has filed a complaint against Mr Thackeray, who made a provocative speech two days ago.
- Mumbai Police have sent a notice to the MNS leader under Section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), used to stop a crime from being committed.
- In a tweet last night, Mr Thackeray said that he still plans to play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers near mosques where the loudspeakers have not been removed.
- “Play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers when you hear the loudspeaker blaring with azaan tomorrow, May 4. I want all Hindus to do this. Because that’s when they’ll realize how bad these loudspeakers are for them, “He said.
- In the past, Mr Thackeray has said that he doesn’t object to loudspeakers because of religious reasons but because he doesn’t like them because they make too much noise.
- Mr Thackeray’s party took on the state government led by his cousin Uddhav Thackeray earlier this month. The BJP wants to take control of the Mumbai civic body, and Mr Thackeray’s party wants to stop them.
- An Indian party called the MNS the BJP’s “B Team” because it wants to cut into Shiv Sena votes with its hard-line Hindutva views.
