Raj Thackeray's Gudhi Padwa speech scripted and sponsored by BJP: Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut. File Pic

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut hit out at Raj Thackeray for demanding that loudspeakers on mosques shut down, saying the MNS chief's speech was "scripted and sponsored" by BJP.

Speaking at a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Saturday, Raj Thackeray demanded that if the playing of loudspeakers in mosques at high volume is not stopped, there will be speakers outside mosques playing Hanuman Chalisa at a higher volume. "It is clear that the (speech of) the loudspeaker blaring at the Shivaji Park yesterday was scripted and sponsored by BJP," Raut told reporters here in an apparent reference to the MNS chief.

Raut criticised the MNS president for his remarks that Shiv Sena remembered the assurance of rotational chief ministership only after the 2019 results, which was a mandate for the Sena-BJP alliance and not for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). "I wonder why some people get their wisdom tooth so late. Governments are formed on majority numbers in legislature. These numbers were with the MVA. The MVA alliance government had been formed to teach liars a lesson and to provide stability to the state," Raut said. He said that no third person should poke his nose into what transpired between the Sena and the BJP in 2019 before the formation of the MVA government. The Sena chief spokesperson wondered if 'Azan' on loudspeakers has been stopped in BJP-ruled states.

"The rule of law prevails in Maharashtra," he said. Raut also slammed the MNS chief for his remarks that NCP president Sharad Pawar plays a caste card and "divides society". "You used to sit at Pawar's feet to seek his guidance till recently. Why should you speak on towering personalities like Pawar," Raut said. Raj Thackeray had also taken potshots at Maharashtra Chief Minister and his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray, whose party, the Shiv Sena, fell out with the BJP in 2019 over the chief minister's post. Raut said the Sena won't pay attention to such talks because the party's agenda is to ensure the development of Maharashtra and also hoist its saffron flag across the state.

NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase on Sunday said the MNS was the BJP 's new "B team" for splitting votes in the upcoming civic elections. He called Raj Thackeray a good mimicry artist. In the last two years, the MVA government successfully tackled all the challenges including the pandemic, he said.

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