Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Mahendra Bhanushali was briefly taken into custody by the Mumbai police on Sunday, 3 April, for playing the Hanuman Chalisa on a loudspeaker without the required permission.
This comes after MNS Chief Raj Thackeray urged the Maharashtra government on Saturday, 2 April, to remove loudspeakers from mosques, adding that if it was not done, he would play the Hanuman Chalisa on speakers.
After being taken into custody, Bhanushali said, “They’ve taken away my amplifier. But I’d like to say, in the coming times, ‘Jai Shree Ram’ will be played on loudspeakers,” ANI reported.
He also added that if action is taken against him, then it should also be taken wherever loudspeakers are used.
He also said that he would be meeting the MNS chief on Monday, 5 April, to brief him about what transpired. “Should enmity arise due to Hindu prayers? If anyone has problems with it, they should shut their ears and sit inside their houses. They’ll be given answers if they oppose such things. I’m meeting Raj Sahab tomorrow to brief him about what happened”.
The MNS chief made these comments while addressing workers of his party at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
Appeal to PM Modi to ‘Raid’ Mosques
Thackeray also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raid mosques in the Muslim-dominated areas of Mumbai, alleging that people living in those areas were supporters of Pakistan.
The MNS chief also lauded the Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh, saying that the state had progressed tremendously and that he wanted Maharashtra to experience such development as well.
Law Still Prevails in Maharashtra: Sena’s Sanjay Raut
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut rejected Thackeray’s comments on Sunday, saying that the law of the land was supreme in Maharashtra.
Raut also likened the event at which the MNS chief spoke to a BJP event, indicating that Thackeray was dancing to the tune of the ruling government.