Loudspeaker row: Police on toes as Raj Thackeray's May 3 deadline dawns

Azaan vs Hanuman Chalisa: The police in Maharashtra are making every effort to prevent a law-and-order situation arising out of Raj Thackeray's deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques or bear Hanuman Chalisa blaring from such amplifiers installed by MNS.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday asked his supporters to play Hanuman Chalisa where the loudspeakers let out Azaan on Wednesday. This has kept the Mumbai and Maharashtra Police on their toes as they make every effort to prevent a law-and-order situation.

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Here’s all that the Azaan-vs-Hanuman Chalisa controversy is all about:

1. On April 2, MNS said that Hanuman Chalisa would be played on loudspeakers if such amplifiers are not removed from mosques.

2. On April 13, MNS president Raj Thackeray set May 3 the deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques.

3. Soon, the Maharashtra government seemed to take action against loudspeakers at religious institutions as the Nashik police prohibited the use of loudspeakers without permission at religious places. They also said that Hanuman Chalisa won't be allowed to be played on loudspeakers 15 minutes before and after Azaan is offered.

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