Mumbai: “In Maharashtra, guidelines for the use of loudspeakers will be issued in two days,” state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said.
In Maharashtra, a coalition government of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, led by Chief Minister Uttam Thackeray, is in place. Here, Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party, continues to press for a ban on the use of loudspeakers in mosques.
“If the loudspeaker is not stopped, we will play the song ‘Hanuman Salisa’ in front of the mosques,” he warned. The BJP has also been vocal in support of this. In this regard, guidelines on the use of loudspeakers in the state are to be issued.
State Home Minister Dilip Valse Patil said yesterday that the state police DGP, Rajnish Seth and Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey were in consultation on the use of loudspeakers in Maharashtra and would formulate guidelines for the same. In two days, a report will be issued. The government wants peace. Strict action will be taken against those who try to divide the people and incite violence, he said.
Ban on devotional songs
In Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray reports that it is feared that the Hanuman Salisa song may be played outside mosques, which could lead to violence. In Nashik district, prior permission is required to play Hanuman Salisa or other Bajaj songs on loudspeakers.
Also, Commissioner of Police Deepak Pandey has announced that it will be prohibited to sound the mosque before and after prayers and to ring within 100 meters of the mosque.