Mumbai: The Popular Front of India’s Mumbra President Abdul Matin Shekhani, who issued an open threat that the PFI ‘won’t spare anyone if loudspeakers were touched’, is absconding, the Mumbai Police informed on Sunday. Two police teams are conducting a search operation to locate Shekhani, according to news agency ANI.
In a hate speech, Shekhani on Friday said that some people had problems with mosques and azaan but if loudspeakers were touched then PFI wouldn’t spare anyone. The Mumbai Police soon booked him under IPC section 188 and sections 37(3) and 135 of Maharashtra Police Act for an illegal gathering where he gave that speech.
According to reports, the open threat was said to be directed at MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who has warned the state government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3.
Recently Raj Thackeray said that azaan on loudspeaker should not be done and that it should be stopped.
On Tuesday he reiterated its warning to the state government that they should shut loudspeakers in mosques till May 3. Thackeray called the issue a social one and said that he will not back down on the subject, while also challenging the Shiv Sena government to “do whatever you want to do”. “Loudspeakers in mosques should be shut till May 3rd otherwise, we will play Hanuman Chalisa in speakers. This is a social issue, not a religious one. I want to tell the state government, we will not go back on this subject, do whatever you want to do,” the MNS chief said.
“I am not against prayers, you can pray at your home, but the government should take a decision on removing mosque loudspeakers. I am warning now… Remove loudspeakers or else will put loudspeakers in front of the mosque and play Hanuman Chalisa,” he said.
(With inputs from ANI)
