Loudspeaker Politics
In the 1990s, the that-time Shiv Sena Pramukh Bal Thackeray set up an agenda for his party and started a discourse in Maharashtra about the use of loudspeakers in worshipping places. He demanded the removal of loudspeakers, especially in mosques. Thirty-something years later his legacy is being questioned and his son the now-Chief Minister of Maharashtra is in a tough spot.
Ideological Altercation
Today, Maharashtra politics is in somewhat of an awkward state of affairs. MNS’s chief Raj Thackeray has given an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to issue the removal of loudspeakers from religious worshipping places before 3rd May or MNS activists will take it to the streets to recite the Hanuman Chalisa; here the word ‘recite’ can be open to interpretations, it can mean to instigate riots and disturb communal harmony, it will most certainly lead to quarrels as the ruling MVA government has decided to play safe and not to act on Thackeray’s ultimatum.
Politicians and political commentators are stating that the Shiv Sena has gone soft because of its coalition with the NCP and Congress with many saying that Uddhav Thackeray the Chief Minister has tarnished his father’s (Bal Thackeray) legacy of staunch Hindutva and Maratha pride. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut hailed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on the situation:
“Violence does not benefit anybody. The society to which violence is dear is now counting its last days. We should forever be non-violent and peace-loving. For this, it is essential to bring together all communities and preserve humanity. We all need to do this work on a priority,” said Bhagwat.
MVA Issue
The Maha Vikas Aghadi is comprised of two ideologically similar parties and one of a completely opposite set of beliefs. The three-party coalition is often criticised for being an alliance for the sake of power with having no similar ideology nor a similar set of agendas for the state of Maharashtra. The coalition was an intelligent political ploy by Sharad Pawar but there have been clashes inside the alliance and due to differences in the three parties, compromises are to be made leading to ineffective functioning of the government and making the chief (Uddhav) look weak.
The BJP is currently aiding MNS chief Raj Thackeray with vocal support in the loudspeaker row. This doesn’t come as surprise as the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh just removed around 53,000 loudspeakers from religious worshipping places (mostly mosques) and lowered the volume to more than 60,000. Obviously, to counter the threat of noise pollution.
Thackeray Conundrum
This is the latest episode of the Thackeray family drama that has been sowing its seeds since the 1990s and came to its boiling point in December 2005 when Raj Thackeray resigned as a primary of Shiv Sena. The Raj-Uddhav rift has been a political power struggle between two cousins for the legacy of one’s father and one’s uncle. It is a spectacle in Maharashtra’s politics however Raj Thackeray’s MNS has been historically unsuccessful and insignificant at polls with currently only one seat in Maharashtra’s Vidhan Sabha.
Though insignificant the MNS has influence over people in the state. Raj Thackeray has a history of calling for extremist actions and is often flagrant about his views on minorities and other issues, a legacy he inherited from his uncle Balasaheb. We will soon get to know how the events surrounding Raj Thackeray’s call for action will turn out, regardless we are living in an intense politically polarised India and the ruling party’s lack of courage to condemn communal acts is the reason behind it.
Also Read: The Onset of Maha Vikas Aghadi’s Inevitable Disintegration
