Amid Azaan Row, MNS Workers To Perform 'Maha Aarti' On Loudspeakers On Akshaya Tritiya

MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said the 'aarti' will be performed on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya which is on May 3, and the  'aarti' will be performed using loudspeakers.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray (File Photo/Getty Images)

New Delhi: Amid a row over loudspeakers used in Azaan, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers have announced that they will perform 'Maha aarti' at their local temples across the state, on May 3, using loudspeakers. 

MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said that this is being organised on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya which is on May 3, and the  'aarti' will be performed using loudspeakers, reported ANI.

This comes after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray held a meeting with the party's top leaders at his residence on Tuesday to build a strategy on the issue of the May 3 ultimatum to remove loudspeakers from mosques.

It is pertinent to note that the month of Ramadan will end on May 1 and Muslims across the country will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on May 3 (as per sighting of the moon).

The MNS chief has issued a warning to take down loudspeakers from the mosques by May 3. In response to Thackeray's demand, the state Home Department on Monday stated that the use of loudspeakers at the religious sites will only be allowed with due permission.

In wake of the ongoing loudspeaker row in the state, Thackeray had on Sunday said that the Muslims in the country should understand that "religion is not above law and country" while also asking them to take down loudspeakers from mosques.

"We don't want riots in Maharashtra. No one has opposed the offering of prayers. We want the loudspeakers that are put up in the mosques and are illegal in the entire country should be taken down. If you do it on loudspeaker, then we will also use loudspeakers for it. Muslims should understand that religion isn't bigger than the law. After May 3, I will see what to do," Thackeray said.

The MNS chief asked the Hindus to "wait till May 3" and play Hanuman Chalisa thereafter in front of the mosques that "don't take down the loudspeakers".

"I only have to say to the Hindus across India to wait till May 3. And after that, play Hanuman Chalisa in front of all such mosques that don't take down the loudspeakers," he said.