Raj Thackeray allegedly asked his followers to play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques as a “tit for tat” for playing the Azaan on loudspeakers.
New Delhi: Two days after his May 1 “provocative speech” at a rally that reportedly “incited his supporters”, Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was booked by the Aurangabad Police on Tuesday. The organiser of the rally Rajiv Jawalikar was also booked for allegedly violating the terms and conditions imposed by the police before granting permission to the rally.
The police also said that around 16 terms and conditions were imposed on the rally while giving permission and some of the conditions were also violated during the rally.
The police informed an FIR has been lodged against the duo under Sections 116 (Abetment of offence), 117 (Whoever abets the commission of an offence by the public generally or by any number or class of persons exceeding ten) and 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot—if rioting be committed—if not committed) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.
The police added that Thackeray was named as the main accused in the case and it has been alleged that he delivered provocative statements that reportedly “instigated” his supporters.
At a rally in Aurangabad, Thackeray had batted to silence the loudspeakers played at mosques and had asked his supporters to play the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in front of mosques as a “tit for tat”.
The action against Thackeray comes after Maharashtra police Rajnish Seth had said he would take action against Thackeray for his speech.
It is pertinent to note that Thackeray has been giving the Maharashtra government a May 3 deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques and has been warning that he would initiate protests across Maharashtra if his warning is not paid heed to.
According to the police, they checked the CCTV footage and listened to the content of the speech and said the “provocative speech” was delivered “with an intent to cause riots”.
