MUMBAI: Stating that the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) Hanuman Chalisa protest was not a one-day protest, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday said that Hanuman Chalisa will be played on loudspeakers till loudspeakers that play azan are removed from mosques.
Raj once again said that this was not a religious issue but a social one, but said that if "they" try to give playing the azan on a loudspeakers at mosques a religious or communal turn then he too would not hold back from giving the issue of playing the Hanuman Chalisa a religious turn.
"Ours was not a one day protest. The MNS will continue to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques till the loudspeakers play azan. If they play the azan five times a day, then our people will play Hanuman Chalisa at that time on loudspeakers at double the decibel level. If you want to follow the orders of the Supreme Court, you have to follow the decibels given by them. You can play loudspeakers from 45 to 55 decibels in residential areas. 45 to 55 decibels is the same amount of noise as a mixer grinder in our home kitchens," Raj said.
Raj said that the morning azan was not played on loudspeakers at 90-92% of mosques in the state and he thanked the maulvis at these mosques. "I thank these maulvis, they have understood our issue. I also thank the police and I think this was a collective effort. If there are illegal loudspeakers on temples, then they too must be removed and stopped. I don’t understand why our MNS functionaries and workers are getting police notices and are being detained. Why is the state government and the police taking action on those who are following the law and the Supreme Court (SC) order," Raj said.
Raj said that there were 1,140 mosques in Mumbai, out of which 135 had played the azan before 5am on Wednesday. "I want to ask the state government what action will be taken against these mosques. This issue is not about taking credit. The police told me that many mosques have permission to play loudspeakers for 365 days. How can such permission be given when for Hindu festivals a permission has to be taken everyday. Masjids should also take daily permission from the police for playing the azan through loudspeakers in mosques. Why do they need a loudspeaker for praying? Till the illegal loudspeakers are removed we will continue to play the Hanuman Chalisa. Many mosques are illegal but the police have given them permission to play the loudspeakers, this is beyond comprehension," Raj said.
Raj urged people to play the Hanuman Chalisa at double the decibel levels, if the azan is played on loudspeakers in mosques.
"They must understand that religion is not bigger than humanity…students and elderly people, patients are affected by the loudspeakers which are played 5 times a day. 135 masjids played the azan on Wednesday before 5 am, we want to see what action is taken against them. We don’t want any riots but the SC has given orders. I also want to ask the SC, what it will do if the orders given by it aren’t being followed by the state government or the police," Raj said.
