Unhappy with Raj's stand, MNS state secretary resigns

Party chief had set May 3 deadline for removal of loudspeakers from mosques

A Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) office-bearer has resigned as a party member and state secretary in Kalyan, following statements made by party chief Raj Thackeray at a rally in Thane on April 12. Raj had said he would stand firm on the role of removing loudspeakers from mosques and the statement did not go well even within the party.

Earlier, after the Gudi Padwa rally of MNS, Irfan Sheikh had posted an emotional message on social media raising concerns about where to express feelings and how to face the society today, with the party adopting a communal stance. Sheikh had also drawn attention to the role of the MNS and what is going on within the party. However, at the recent rally in Thane, Raj once again raised the issue of loudspeakers at mosques and gave a deadline of May 3 for their removal, prompting Sheikh to resign.

“I have been working with you since the establishment of the party. I joined many agitations of the party and took up many cases. At that time you told me not to forget these wounds; I will see to the rest.

Saheb, now get to see these days. Where and to whom should activists without financial status like me express their feelings now. I entrust my resignation to you with a heavy heart. Today, my family and society are helpless. People who inspired me to work with you are the ones who are urging me to leave your party. After 16 years you suddenly got suspicious about Azaan, mosques, madrassas,” Sheikh said in his letter. He added that while Thackeray may not personally be in the wrong, people are convinced that something terrible is going to happen.

According to Sheikh, when he joined the MNS during its inception, he was a big fan of Raj Thackeray. He said Raj had a clear and impressive vision that motivated him to join the party. “Now it is becoming difficult to understand which way he is going. Instead of speaking on raising issues like inflation and employment for youths he chooses to speak on something else like removing loudspeakers from mosques. At the time of joining the party, I thought he would bring some change in Maharashtra but he has now changed his path," said Sheikh.