A day after a massive rally in Aurangabad, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) canceled its ‘maha aarti’, which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday and was expected to be attended by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. Party chief Raj Thackeray made the announcement on Twitter and said he would inform supporters and workers about the next step.
The MNS president tweeted, ‘The issue of loudspeakers is not a religious issue but a matter of public interest. What needs to be done next, I will inform it from my Twitter handle tomorrow.
‘Maha Aarti’ was to be held in Prabhadevi at 6.30 pm on Tuesday. It will be led by Amit Thackeray, son of Raj Thackeray.
The ‘Maha Aarti’ was a much-awaited event for which right-wing Hindutva organisations, VHP and Bajrang Dal also held a meeting with senior MNS leaders in Pune.
Thackeray had performed a similar ‘maha aarti’ last month at a famous Hanuman temple in Pune.
There is speculation that Thackeray may have canceled the ‘Maha Aarti’ due to his tussle with the police over his explosive speech at the Aurangabad rally. Police sources said that his Hanuman Chalisa speech violated 16 conditions and a case could be registered soon.
According to sources, Thackeray’s speech during the rally was recorded from many places. Aurangabad police said it will investigate and charge Thackeray for his speech.
The police had fixed 16 terms and conditions while granting permission for the rally. Thackeray was asked to avoid offensive slogans as well as religious, casteist and regional references during or after the rally.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil has also asked the city police to submit a report on the public meeting. The minister said the MNS chief’s speech in Aurangabad was aimed at “creating division in the society” and indicated action against him.
He also said that the speech only centered around attacking NCP president Sharad Pawar, whose party currently shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in the state.
On Sunday, Thackeray had said he was firm on the May 3 deadline to remove loudspeakers from outside mosques, which he called a nuisance. He also said that if this is not done then all Hindus will play Hanuman Chalisa outside these religious places.
Addressing a public meeting called ‘Hindu Jannayak’, the MNS chief said if the Uttar Pradesh government can remove loudspeakers, then what is stopping the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government.
“I will not be responsible for what happens after the May 3 deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques,” he said, adding that “loudspeakers are a social issue, but if it is being made religious, then we Will give an answer in the same way. Eid will be celebrated on May 3. We do not want to spoil the atmosphere. But from May 4, if loudspeakers (from mosques) are not dropped, then all Hindus should play Hanuman Chalisa in double voice in front of those mosques.
He further said that loudspeakers have no place in religion and hence it should be removed. “If they (Muslims) do not understand well, we will show them the strength of Maharashtra. All loudspeakers (above mosques) are illegal. Is this a concert in which so many loudspeakers are being used?” He asked.
(with PTI inputs)
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