In many places in Maharashtra ‘Azaan’ Restraind under Hindutva Pressure.

Azaan restrained under Hindutva pressure mounted by MNS.

Maharashtra: Azaan in Dawn (Fajr) performed without loudspeakers in Kalyan, Ulhasnagar mosques and in many other places.

Sujata More | HENB |  Mumbai  |  May 4, 2022::  Under Hindutva pressure and ongoing row over loudspeaker and ultimatum issued by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, the first prayer call (Azaan of Fajr) from Mosques on Wednesday morning was performed in without using loudspeakers in many places across Maharashtra including Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Amaravati and Aurangabad.

Large number of security personnel have been deployed outside the mosques since morning to avoid any untoward incidents. In the city too, mosques avoided using loudspeakers during the first azaan in the morning.

On Tuesday, Thackeray had given a final ultimatum demanding to remove loudspeakers from atop mosques. He had also urged his supporters to play Hanuman Chalisa near mosques if loudspeakers are not removed.

Meanwhile, as a preventive measure, Mumbai police also arrested several MNS workers in Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and some other places late at night.

On Tuesday night, MNS Chief Raj Thackery issued a two pages press note where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray urged people to play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers wherever they hear loudspeakers ‘blaring azaan (Islamic prayer call)’. Meanwhile, the Mumbai police served him a notice under a CrPC section related to prevention of cognizable offences.

On Wednesday, MNS chief Raj Thackeray posted a video of Bal Thackeray’s speech in his twitter handle+ to justify his demand.

Beside noise pollution and disturbance to patients, students and elderly people; the phrase used in the Azaan five times, “There is no god but Allah” so announced loudly is highly offensive to beliefs of plurality in Hinduism.

The Supreme Court of India and many other High Courts reiterated that ‘no use of loudspeakers is permitted between 10 pm to 6 am’; there are severe violations of loudspeakers used in religious places in many places.

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__Inputs from Agencies and Twitter.