MNS chief questions use of loudspeaker for Azaan

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday questioned the use of loudspeaker for Azaan and advised the Muslims to offer Namaz at home so that nobody is disturbed.

Thackeray, while addressing a gathering of party workers on the occasion of Guru Purnima said: "I always ask the Muslims, why they need loudspeaker for Azaan? Whom do they want to show? If they want to offer Namaz do it at home, why on roads?"

The MNS chief also pitched for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya but after the General Elections in 2019.

On the question of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha after his speech during the no-confidence motion on July 20, Thackeray said that there was nothing wrong in the move by Gandhi.

"Our Prime Minister hugs many people on his visit to other nations. What will happen with that one hug of Rahul Gandhi," he said.

Reacting to the protest called by the Maratha Kranti Morcha, Thackeray supported the idea for giving reservation on the basis of 'economic criteria' instead of caste.

"If reservation is given on the basis of one caste then after some time another caste will come forward," he said while condemning former Prime Minister V. P. Singh for introducing the caste based reservation on the recommendations of Mandal Commission.

Thackeray also questioned the government's attitude towards the central institutions and said: "If all the governments are positive towards private institutions and not their own then how will people get the reservation for education."

"Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, said in that employment in government institutions has reduced and same has been increased in private institutions. If this is the case then what are the people fighting for," he asked.