Speaking to reporters over letter threatening Raj Thackeray, MNS leader Nandgaonkar said there would be repercussions across the state if the MNS chief was harmed.
Raj Thackeray had earlier given the May 4 ultimatum to the state government to remove loudspeakers atop mosques and warned that 'Hanuman Chalisa' will be played outside mosques at a higher volume if it is not done.
The MNS president had on Wednesday tweeted a video, reminding his cousin and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, about the stand of the latter's father (Bal Thackeray) on loudspeakers and people offering namaz on roads.
The home department of Maharashtra government said on Wednesday that out of 1,135 mosques in Mumbai, there were 135 mosques where ‘azaan’(call to prayer) was being made over loudspeakers above the decibel limit set by the Supreme Court in its 2005 order. Nearly 1,500 mosques and 1,300 temples have sought permission from the state government for use of loudspeaker, a home department official said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had on Tuesday appealed to all Hindus to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in those very places if they hear the loudspeakers blaring the azan on May 4 (tomorrow), reiterating his earlier deadline for removal of loudspeakers atop Mosques.
Reiterating that it's not a religious but a social issue, Raj Thackeray said, "It's not only about mosques, there are several temples where illegal loudspeakers are running. I have already made it clear that it's (illegal loudspeakers) not a religious issue but a social issue."
A case was filed against Raj Thackeray on Tuesday when he appealed to people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in the areas where loudspeakers are used for 'Aazan' from today.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has asked party workers and the people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques if azaans are played on loudspeakers from minarets.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray in a two-page letter said, "I appeal to all Hindus that tomorrow, the 4th of May, if you hear the loudspeakers blaring the azan; in those very places, play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers! That's when they will realise, the hindrance of these loudspeakers."
Maharashtra police chief Rajnish Seth said the Aurangabad police commissioner will take appropriate legal action against Raj Thackeray over his speech against loudspeakers atop mosques.
During a mega rally in Aurangabad to mark Maharashtra Day, Thackeray on Sunday reminded Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to bring down all loudspeakers atop mosques in the state reiterating his May 3 deadline.
Lok Sabha MP from Aurangabad Imitiaz Jaleel, also the AIMIM's Maharashtra unit chief, said he and his party could reply to Thackeray in equal measure but would desist from doing so.
Addressing a mega public rally in Aurangabad, Raj Thackeray said that he won’t be responsible for what all happens after the May 3 deadline to remove the loudspeakers from the mosques.
The use of loudspeakers has become a hot-button issue after MNS chief Raj Thackeray earlier this month demanded that loudspeakers at mosques in Maharashtra be removed.
The development came after MNS chief Raj Thackeray last week reiterated his demand that loudspeakers on mosques be removed by May 3 or else MNS will play 'Hanuman Chalisa' eulogising Lord Hanuman on loudspeakers outside mosques.
Stating that the MNS never wanted communal riots to take place in the country or to disturb the peace, Raj Thackeray said the Muslim community should look at the demand for the removal of loudspeakers from mosques from a humanitarian angle.
The MNS chief had recently given the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra an `ultimatum' to remove loudspeakers from mosques before May 3.
Sanjay Raut also announced Shiv Sena leader and minister Aaditya Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya, tentatively in the first or second week of May.
Over 35 Muslim leaders holding various positions in MNS have resigned from the primary membership of the party over loudspeaker row.
Considered a die-hard supporter of Modi in the past, Raj once visited Gujarat and sang paeans of the 'model' development there.
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