Loudspeaker row: Maharashtra government to hold all-party meet

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has made some new rules regarding loudspeakers in the past few days, but the controversy does not seem to be over yet. The controversy is also once again highlighting the long-standing tussle between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray as the Uddhav government has convened a meeting of all parties today to decide the guidelines related to loudspeakers at religious places.

Almost all parties have given their consent to attend the meeting, but Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray will not attend the meeting.

According to the information that has come out about this meeting so far, the meeting will be attended by former chief minister of the state Devendra Fadnavis from the BJP and Sandeep Deshpande are reported to be attending the meeting from the MNS side. Apart from this, leaders of some other smaller parties will also be present there.

 

Why did you have to call a meeting?

The loudspeaker controversy in Maharashtra was triggered by Raj Thackeray this month. He had told the Uddhav government at a function of his party about two weeks ago that loudspeakers should be removed from all mosques in the state. If the state government does not do this, he will install loudspeakers outside mosques to play the Hanuman Chalisa.

About 10 days later, Raj Thackeray again spoke on the issue and asked the Hindus of the country to unite. He had said that if loudspeakers were not removed from all mosques by May 3, he would start removing them himself. He is not against any religion, but if someone breaks the law, it is not acceptable.