Maharashtra government issued instructions against using loudspeakers beyond the permitted decibel limit and warned with legal action in case of violation.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said, “Clear instructions have been given that loudspeakers are allowed within the permitted decibel limit and if anyone violates that then legal action will be taken.”
“Court stated that from 10 pm till 6 am loudspeakers should not be played. There is no question of removing loudspeakers from mosques or temples that have taken permission to put on loudspeakers. People should not take law and order in their hands,” he added.
The government notification has come amid ongoing controversy over the use of loudspeakers in mosques, an issue raised by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.
Thackeray had asked the Maharashtra government to remove the loudspeakers from mosques and warned of “putting loudspeakers in front of the mosques and playing Hanuman Chalisa.”
He even reiterated his warning to the state government that they should shut loudspeakers in mosques by May 3.
Earlier in the day, Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) put up a poster outside the Saamana Office in Mumbai asking Sanjay Raut to “shut down his loudspeaker” in response to Shiv Sena leader’s reported remark terming Raj Thackeray the “Owaisi of Maharashtra”.
The MNS poster also has a picture of Raut’s car that the party had turned upside down in the past reminding the Shiv Sena leader of the incident.
“Whom did you call Owaisi? Sanjay Raut shut down your loudspeaker, whole Maharashtra facing problem due to it or else we will shut down your loudspeaker in MNS style,” read the poster outside the office.
