Loudspeaker row: Raj Thackeray’s threat ploy to score political points before civic polls, says educationist

Educationist PA Inamdar on Thursday said that MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s threat was a ploy to gain mileage before the municipal elections in Mumbai and Pune.

Educationist and President of Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society PA Inamdar on Thursday said that MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s threat of playing Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques if loudspeakers are not removed by May 3 was a ploy to gain mileage before the municipal elections in Mumbai and Pune.

Inamdar on Thursday organised a meeting of the trustees of around 450 mosques in and around Pune to provide guidelines about the ongoing loudspeaker row. The meeting was attended by around 100-odd members of the Muslim community.

"It's our duty to inform the mosque in-charges that they need to obtain permission from the police to put on loudspeakers. We must also inform them about the procedure to be followed and documents that need to be submitted,” PA Inamdar said.

He explained that many of the mosque trustees were unaware of the directions of the Supreme Court on using loudspeakers while reciting Azaan.

The meeting was organised keeping in mind the guidelines put out by state Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil. PA Inamdar said: "Rules are rules. The SC’s directions were not being implemented. Now, everyone will have to follow rules at all religious and social gatherings.”

One of the participants, Dr Mushtaq Mukadam, said: "We have to make people aware of noise regulations and the importance of maintaining peace.”

Anjum Inamdar, a social worker who is known to have stepped in to perform last rites across religions during the pandemic, said: “Those who attended the meeting felt MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s ultimatum, in a way, is a way of terrorising people over the issue. The state should take appropriate action.”