The controversy over loudspeakers in Maharashtra is increasing. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) installed a loudspeaker and played Hanuman Chalisa outside Shiv Sena party headquarters ‘Shiv Sena Bhavan’ in Mumbai today on Ram Navami. However, policemen reached the spot in no time and closed it.

The police have seized the vehicle on which Hanuman Chalisa was being played. Also MNS leader Yashwant Killekar was taken into custody, he has been taken to Shivaji Park police station. Ram Navami posters were put up in front of Shiv Sena Bhavan this morning. MNS had already announced to play Hanuman Chalisa.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray last week demanded the state government to remove loudspeakers from mosques. Addressing his supporters at a rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, Raj Thackeray had said, “Why are loudspeakers played at such a high volume in mosques? I am not against prayer or any particular religion. I am proud of my religion.”

Sanjay Raut called it a BJP conspiracy, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had targeted Raj Thackeray for asking the government to remove loudspeakers from mosques. Raut said his speech was “‘scripted and sponsored” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Raut said it was clear that the loudspeaker speech playing at Shivaji Park was “written and sponsored by the BJP”. Maharashtra is the state where the law still prevails. The home minister of the state will do everything according to the law and the law of the land prevails in Maharashtra.

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