MUMBAI: Terming loudspeakers on mosques as a "social issue" and not religious one, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday reminded the state government of the May 4 ultimatum he has given to remove them."Today is May 1 and Eid is getting celebrated on May 3. I don't want to come in between the festive celebrations, but I am not going to tolerate it (loudspeakers) from May 4 onwards," he said, appealing to all Hindus to retaliate by playing Hanuman Chalisa in louder volumes to counter the loudspeakers on mosques.
At a party rally in Aurangabad, Thackeray also appealed for resolving the issue of loudspeakers "once and for all".
"Playing loudspeakers does not have ground in any religion. If they do not pay heed to our request, we are left with no option," he said, referring to the state of Uttar Pradesh, where he said loudspeakers have been removed from mosques after intervention from the state government.
Incidentally, one loudspeaker from a mosque situated nearby the venue of the MNS rally played up during the speech of Thackeray, making him visibly furious."I appeal to all the cops present here to take necessary action." he said, winding up his speech abruptly. He limited his speech to an attack on NCP chief Sharad Pawar without any word on Shiv Sena and other parties. He blamed Pawar for spreading the hatred in the society through casteism.
