Bring Uniform Civil Code, Law On Population Control: Raj Thackeray Urges PM Modi In Pune Speech

The MNS chief has postponed his planned Ayodhya visit which was scheduled for June 5. In a statement, he informed that he will share more details on his visit to Ayodhya at his rally in Pune. 

New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement Uniform Civil Code in the country at the earliest along with a law on population control. Addressed a rally at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch in Pune, Thackeray stressed the demand to change the name of Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar while also opening up on the row around his Ayodhya visit. "Two days ago, I tweeted about postponing my Ayodhya visit. I intentionally gave the statement to allow everyone to give their reactions. Those who were against my Ayodhya visit were trying to trap me, but I decided not to fall into this controversy," MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

He appealed to PM Modi saying, "I request the Prime Minister to bring Uniform Civil Code at the earliest, also bring a law on population control and change the name of Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar."

Raj Thackeray also targeted his cousin, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray indirectly as he sided with Maharashtra MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana.

"After I asked my workers to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers, the Rana couple (Ravi & Navneet Rana) said they will recite Hanuman Chalisa at Matoshree. Is Matoshree a mosque? Everyone knows what happened between Shiv Sainiks and the Rana couple later," he remarked, as quoted by ANI.

Heavy deployment of the police was made ahead of Raj Thackeray's rally in Pune. "We are expecting 10,000-15,000 people to attend today's rally. Raj Thackeray will talk on many issues, including his Ayodhya visit," Sainath Babar, Pune MNS president, told ANI.

The MNS chief has postponed his planned Ayodhya visit which was scheduled for June 5. In a statement, he informed that he will share more details on his visit to Ayodhya at his rally in Pune on Sunday. 

The MNS chief has been at the centre stage of the loudspeakers row in Maharashtra. The controversy erupted after Raj Thackeray on April 12 gave an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, failing which, he warned, MNS workers will play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. 

A case was filed against Raj Thackeray when he appealed to people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in the areas where loudspeakers are used for 'Azaan'.