Refusing to budge on the issue of removing loudspeakers from mosques, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday warned Muslims that if they do not accept his request, then he should not be held responsible for what occurs in Maharashtra after May 4.
He reiterated that he had no interest or the need to disturb peace in Maharashtra by causing riots. “I do not want to poison Id festivities. But after that [May 4], we will not listen. I urge all my Hindu brothers to play the Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques. If you [the Muslim community] do not listen humbly to our requests, we will have no option left,” Mr. Thackeray said.
Addressing a jam-packed audience in Aurangabad’s Marathwada Sanskruti Mandal ground, Mr. Thackeray, in a bid to reaffirm his hardline Hindutva credentials, exhorted the Hindu community to remove loudspeakers playing azan from mosques after May 4. He told them to play the Hanuman Chalisa at twice the volume in front of mosques if the loudspeakers are not dislodged.
