There is panic in Shiv Sena over the perception of BJP and MNS that the party has weakened its core ideology after sharing power with NCP and Congress. The party mouthpiece had recently criticized the BJP for “trying to create communal unrest”. Spokesperson Sanjay Raut had said, ‘BJP is trying to incite communal riots in Maharashtra and the country.
Party leaders believe that signing the letter would enable the BJP to accuse the Shiv Sena of weakening Hindutva. Many Shiv Sena leaders are of the opinion that leaving the BJP and the MNS as “only protectors of Hindutva” will destroy the Shiv Sena’s vote base. Shiv Sena leaders have taken similar stances in the past to protect their base. For example, in Amravati last November after a march by Muslims rioted, the BJP organized a bandh, which led to another riot, but Shiv Sena functionaries participated in the BJP bandh.
The specifics of its stand by the MVA government allowing the use of loudspeakers for religious purposes should be seen in this background. It is a departure from its stand that it will not take action against loudspeakers in mosques. Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said on Monday, “The DGP and Mumbai Police Commissioner will soon draft a policy on loudspeakers at religious places and a notification or guidelines will be issued in the next two days.”
Patil later met Thackeray to discuss the issue. Another meeting of senior police officers is to be held on Tuesday on this issue. State government insiders said there were plans to regularize the use of loudspeakers by asking mosques and other religious institutions to apply for permits, which would be given subject to decibel conditions.
Meanwhile, a minor communal clash was reported in Amravati’s Achalpur on Sunday over removal of religious flags from public places.
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