Mumbai: Hours after an FIR being lodged against him for wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) cheif Raj Thackeray on Tuesday once again reiterated his appeal to people to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques from May 4 if loudspeakers there were not removed.
"I appeal to all Hindus that tomorrow, the 4th of May, if you hear the loudspeakers blaring the azan; in those very places, play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers! That's when they will realise, the hindrance of these loudspeakers," Raj Thackeray said in an official statement.
He also urged police force to show that this country is governed by "law and order". "They should maintain and follow the law. The unauthorised masjids, loudspeakers and the prayers being held on the middle of roads, need to be addressed duly by law," the statement read further.
The MNS chief has put forth three appeals to all the Hindus:
1. Make them hear our Hanuman Chalisa
2. All local mandals and vigilant citizens should start a signature drive against it and submit the appeal letter with signatures daily to local police stations
3. If one hears the masjids playing loudspeakers, the citizens should dial 100 and lodge a complaint. One must complain everyday.
Raj Thackeray's appeal came amid the political furore in Mumbai days after he asked people to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques from May 4 if loudspeakers there were not removed.
Mumbai police have issued notices to at least 100 people, including MNS leaders Nitin Sardesai and Bala Nandgaonkar, under section 149 of the CrPC for preventing cognizable offences.
Considering the law and order situation in the state capital Mumbai, the city police have issued notices under the CrPC section 149 to at least 100 people under zone 5, which includes Dadar, Matunga, Shivaji Park and Dharavi areas.
Earlier in the day, the Aurangabad police registered a case against the MNS chief and the rally organisers under various IPC sections, including 153.