MNS leader Bhanushali held for playing 'Hanuman Chalisa' on loudspeaker

Raj Thackeray had warned to take down the illegal horns on the mosque on the occasion of Gudipadava on April 2 or else put loudspeakers in front of the mosque and play Hanuman Chalisa. Consequently, on Sunday, the police have taken the MNS leader Bhanushali into custody for playing Hanuman Chalisa on the loudspeaker without permission.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray had warned to take down the illegal horns on the mosque on the occasion of Gudipadava on April 2 or else put loudspeakers in front of the mosque and play Hanuman Chalisa. Consequently, on Sunday, MNS leader Mahendra Bhanushali has started Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeaker by installing a loudspeaker in his office at Chandivali. Meanwhile, police have been deployed at the spot. The police have taken the MNS leader into custody for playing Hanuman Chalisa on the loudspeaker without permission.

"The police took away my amplifier but in the coming times, 'Jai Shree Ram' will be played on loudspeakers," he said. Mahendra Bhanushali also said, "Mumbai Police imposed Rs 5,050 fine on me and gave notice stating if I play it again, strict action will be taken. If the Maha Vikas Aghadi government doesn't take action, 'Hanuman Chalisa' will be played on big loudspeakers in front of Mosques."

MNS leader further added, "No one takes permission. So action should be taken on everyone if it is taken on me. The police did their job. Raj Thackeray said, do not say anything to the police. Action should be taken wherever loudspeakers are used."

He added, "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. Raj Thackeray ordered 'Hanuman Chalisa' to be played on the road, I obliged but the police came and told us not to do it as it could lead to enmity, but was there any enmity over Mosque loudspeakers for so many years?"

Meanwhile, Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) termed Raj Thackeray's statement a spoiler of mutual love and brotherhood, while the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) backed the statement. BJP leader and former minister Amar Bauri questioned that if Azaan can be done from the loudspeaker from the mosque, then why not recite Hanuman Chalisa from the temple. Jharkhand Pradesh BJP Scheduled Front President and former minister Amar Kumar Bauri said that everyone has equal rights.

Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera said that the statement of Raj Thackeray is provoking an emotional issue. Jharkhand Mahila Congress President Gunjan Singh said that Raj Thackeray's statement is condemnable and he should apologize for the statement.

Manoj Pandey of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha said, "the people of Maharashtra have marginalized Raj Thackeray. He is battling an identity crisis. He gave the provocative statement to come into the limelight in Maharashtra politics." Manoj Pandey said that the path of mutual love and harmony is better and a party like Shiv Sena is now running the government in Maharashtra on the strength of love and brotherhood.