Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray gave a speech at the Gudi Padwa rally of his party in Mumbai on April 2. He issued a warning to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government to immediately ban loudspeakers at mosques or Hanuman Chalisa will be played at double volume near the mosques. Mr Thackeray said, "Why loudspeakers in mosques are played at such high volume? I am not against prayers, you can pray at your home, but the government should take a decision on removing mosque loudspeakers. I am warning you now... Remove loudspeakers or else put loudspeakers in front of the mosque and play Hanuman Chalisa. I appeal to PM Modi to raid the Madarasas at the Muslim shanties. Pakistani supporters are residing in these shanties. Mumbai Police know what's happening there. Our MLAs use them for vote-bank, such people don't even have Aadhar Card, but the MLAs get them made,"  

However the government refused to listen to Raj’s warning. This is why MNS workers played Hanuman Chalisa in front of the party office in Kalyan which is close to a Mosque. Raj Thackeray's call to lower the volume of loudspeakers at mosques was criticized by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, NCP chief Pawar and other leaders in the Maharashtra government. Raut said, ‘“Raj Thackeray was talking about taking down the loudspeakers installed in mosques. First, see in which all BJP ruled states Azaan has been stopped, loudspeakers removed from mosques. In many BJP states, Azaan is still given in speakers. We will not fear your warnings. This is Maharashtra, where the law of the land is followed.” 

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