Lok Sabha MP from Amravati Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana on Wednesday got bail from the Mumbai sessions court with several conditions in the Hanuman Chalisa row. MP Navneet Rana and her husband Ravi Rana, who is an independent MLA, were arrested on 23 April from their Mumbai residence after declaring that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s home in Bandra. Earlier today, Navneet Rana who was arrested on charges of sedition and promoting enmity was shifted from the Byculla Jail to the JJ Hospital for her spondylosis treatment.
Rana’s lawyer provided details of her health and wrote a letter to the Superintendent of Byculla Jail on Monday stating that the BJP leader has spondylosis which is increasing due to continuously sitting and lying on the floor in jail. He said that Rana needs to undergo a CT scan so that the doctors can understand the seriousness of her condition, adding that
the jail authorities denied permission for the same. “Navneet Rana has a problem of spondylosis which is increasing due to continuously sitting and lying on the floor in jail. In view of this, she was taken to JJ Hospital on 27 April. The doctor of JJ Hospital has specifically written that it is mandatory to do a CT scan of Rana so that they can understand how serious the problem of spondylosis is, but the concerned authorities did not allow for the same. Until this does not happen, it is difficult to decide what medicine or treatment should be given to Rana,” the lawyer said. The two were booked in two FIRs lodged on charges of sedition, promoting enmity, and assaulting a public servant to prevent discharge of duty.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday said that playing Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques will continue till the time the government acts and address the issue in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines on loudspeakers. “As far as I know, there are over 1,140 mosques in Mumbai. Out of these, 135 mosques played azaan at 5am violating the guidelines. We want peace in the state. I want to ask the police you are taking action only against our workers. My point is that all illegal loudspeakers should be removed from mosques, until they are removed we will continue our agitation,” Raj Thackeray said addressing a press briefing here. The MNS chief further said: “It’s not only about mosques, there are several temples where illegal loudspeakers are running. I have already made it clear that it’s (illegal loudspeakers) not a religious issue but a social issue.” Maharashtra Home Department earlier today said that are a total of 1,140 mosques, out of which 135 went against the Supreme Court orders and used loudspeakers before 6 am today. “I have to see what Supreme Court is doing if the government is not following its order,” he added. Thackeray also said that the MNS leaders will continue to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques at the time of Azaan until all illegal loudspeakers will be removed.
“It’s not only about mosques, there are several temples where illegal loudspeakers are running. I have already made it clear that it’s (illegal loudspeakers) not a religious issue but a social issue,” Thackeray further said. Security has been heightened outside the MNS chief residence. Police have also detained around 250-260 MNS activists since early morning in the state.
The loudspeakers row started when the MNS chief on 12 April gave an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, failing which, he warned, MNS workers will play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. A case was filed against Raj Thackeray on Tuesday when he appealed to people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in the areas where loudspeakers are used for ‘Azaan’ from today.