Raj Thackeray says no ‘Maha Aarti’ on Eid, loudspeaker a social issue

He reiterated that his campaign against loudspeakers was a social issue and he would disclose his future plans through Twitter on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday appealed to his party workers to not perform the announced 'Maha Aarti' on the occasion of 'Akshay Tritiya' on May 3 as he doesn't want to create any obstacle for Muslims during the Eid festival.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

He reiterated that his campaign against loudspeakers was a social issue and he would disclose his future plans through Twitter on Tuesday.

"To Maharashtra Sainiks (MNS workers), tomorrow it's Eid. In yesterday's Aurangabad rally, I have already spoken about that. Please don't do Maha Arti on the festive occasion of Akshaya Tritiya as decided earlier. We don't have to bring any obstacles to anyone's festivities. The issue of loudspeakers is not a religious matter, but it's a social issue. What we have to do about it will be decided in future. I will put forth my views about this through a tweet tomorrow. Only this much for now," the MNS chief tweeted in Marathi.

The MNS chief termed the use of loudspeakers in mosques as "a social and not a religious issue" and exhorted that he was firm on the May 3 deadline for their removal.

Thackeray said loudspeaker is not a religious issue but it is a national issue and warned that if they don't stop, then we will also take a stand.

"This is not a religious issue. It is a national issue but if you stop us, we will also take a stand. All the loudspeaker speaker is not under the law and it is illegal. The Supreme Court already said it was illegal, it was not a matter of Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). When we take sabha they say it was an education zone, a temple zone, you can't take sabha, but for them, there is an objection. Who gave you rights?" asked the MNS chief.