Will Mumbai Become a Union Territory?

Maharashtra’s ex CM, Devendra Fadnavis has now jumped with a controversial statement saying “'Yes, I was there when Babri Masjid was demolised, not Shiv Sena,'

There are clashes going on for the removal of loudspeakers from religious premises like temples, churches and mosques all across the country. Moreover, several state governments have already taken strict action for the removal of loudspeakers or atleast fixing the volume so that it does not disturb anyone. The Uttar Pradesh government has so far removed 11,000 speakers from religious premises and many other state governments have taken strict actions. However no such steps are yet taken in Maharashtra, and Raj Thackrey the founder of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) who is also a brother of Maharashtra’s current Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey has given  warnings which claims that he along with his party workers will start playing Hanuman Chalisa in loudspeakers in maximum volume across the state.

On 1st May following this controversy, now Maharashtra’s ex Chief Minister and BJP Leader Devendra Fadnavis has now jumped with a controversial statement saying “'Yes, I was there when Babri Masjid was demolished, not Shiv Sena. If you don’t already know, the religious site of Ram Janam Bhoomi in Ayodhya, was a matter of controversy for several years and now has been allotted for the construction of Ram Mandir by the supreme court, had a structure of a mosque which was broken by the supporters of Shri Ram claiming that his is the birthplace of lord Ram, and was later forcefully captured by mughals after which the masjid was constructed named the “Babri Masjid ''. and throughout the years, Shiv Sena has claimed its involvement in the breaking down of Babri Masjid in order to gain massive support of the hindu voters. and now no action is taken in Maharashtra by Shiv Sena for the removal of loudspeakers in mosques. Devendra Fadnavis targeted the Shiv Sena and said that the Shiv Sena leaders are scared to even remove loudspeakers from the mosques but claimed that they brought down the Babri masjid. While addressing a BJP rally in Mumbai, Fadnavis claimed he was there when the mosque was demolished and no Shiv Sena leader was there at that time. 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on 29th April alleged that efforts were on to make Mumbai a Union Territory and “bring in the Centre's rule in the city”. Raut further alleged that former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya and a group of party leaders, builders, and businessmen were part of this “conspiracy”. These people have made a presentation to the union home ministry. The party further alleged that PM Modi takes all international dignitaries to Gujarat because he wants “development in the region for promoting the Modi model", while Mumbai and Maharashtra are “completely ignored". Shiv Sena also criticized Lata Mangeshkar’s family for not inviting chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to the inaugural award of the late singer Lata Mangeshkar named as  “Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award”. According to them this was “insulting".

Union minister and senior BJP leader Narayan Rane dismissed the claims. “The Sena floats such rumours to play the ‘Marathi Pride’ card to gain sympathy whenever they are in trouble. There is no iota of truth in the claim...” Shiv Sena creates back to back controversies. 

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