Mumbai: MNS Plays Hanuman Chalisa On Loudspeaker Outside Shiv Sena Bhawan, Two Detained

The incidents follow MNS chief Raj Thackeray's warning where he said his party will play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques if they do not remove loudspeakers for Azaan.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray (Getty Image) | MNS worker at Shiv Sena Bhawan (ANI Photo)

New Delhi: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Sunday morning played 'Hanuman Chalisa' outside Shiv Sena Party Headquarter 'Shiv Sena Bhawan' from a loudspeaker on the occasion of Ram Navami.

This comes a week after the party had 'Hanuman Chalisa' played from loudspeakers at its office in Ghatkopar. 

In the fresh incident, Mumbai Police stopped the Hanuman Chalisa being played on a loudspeaker by the Raj Thackeray-led party. 

Mumbai Police have detained MNS leader Yashwant Killedar and a taxi driver in connection with the incident. Both are being questioned while no case has been registered yet, news agency ANI reported.

#UPDATE | Mumbai Police has detained MNS leader Yashwant Killedar and a taxi driver and is questioning them in connection with the playing of 'Hanuman Chalisa' by MNS outside Shiv Sena HQ in Mumbai today. No case has been registered yet.

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2022

The incidents follow MNS chief Raj Thackeray's warning where he said his party will play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques if they do not remove loudspeakers for Azaan.

"I am not against prayers, you can pray at your home, but the government should take a decision on removing mosque loudspeakers. I am warning now... Remove loudspeakers or else will put loudspeakers in front of the mosque and play Hanuman Chalisa," the MNS chief had said, as quoted by ANI.

Last week, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated that the government will discuss the order of the court in this matter and will talk to Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil about it.

"Regarding loudspeakers, we had said that we will discuss the order of the court. I had said in this matter before that we will talk to the Home Minister about it," he said.

Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also said that the Maharashtra Home Minister has given the notice to maintain the decibel level for Azaan.

Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have the mosques in Muslim areas of Mumbai raided as he alleged that the people living there are "Pakistani supporters".

"I appeal to PM Modi to raid the Madarasas at the Muslim shanties. Pakistani supporters are residing in these shanties. Mumbai Police knows what's happening there...Our MLAs using them for vote-bank, such people don't even have Aadhar Card, but the MLAs get them made," he said, as quoted by ANI.