Picture : ANI/X
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has claimed that anger was being created in society through social media and citizens were being kept embroiled in caste and religious disputes.
Speaking to his party office-bearers in Thane, he criticised the unbridled use of high-decibel sound systems, colloquially known as “DJs”.
Thackeray urged citizens to remain alert and avoid falling into traps designed to incite religious conflict to distract the public from pressing socio-economic challenges.
“The atmosphere is being vitiated, and anger is being created in society by heating up the situation through social media. I have the greatest fear that riots will be created during the upcoming Ganesh festival,” he claimed.
आज ६ सप्टेंबर २०२६ रोजी ठाणे येथील श्री. गडकरी रंगायतन येथे पदाधिकाऱ्यांना संबोधित केलं.
छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज, डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर,महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले यांच्या रांगेत दुसरं कोणी नाही बसू शकत.
आपण धर्माभिमानी असलं पाहिजे धर्मांध होता कामा नये. तुम्हाला धर्मांध केलं जात आहे,… pic.twitter.com/DkK3BVR7Iv
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) September 6, 2026
Amid the ongoing debate over the use of high-powered sound systems during festivals, he said “DJs” and laser lights pose severe health and vision risks.
He also attacked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over “selectively enforced” bans on “DJ”, referring to Nagpur and Pune.
Thackeray also slammed the Centre, asking if the first quarter GDP growth is 7.8 per cent, then why people are being told to avoid foreign trips and buying gold. Citing what he described as a government report, the MNS chief claimed that 503 companies had shut down their operations in India between 2021 and 2026.
He objected to political messaging in public offices, saying that while Prime Minister Modi’s picture belongs in government spaces, it should not be placed alongside revered figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule.
Last week, a criminal case was registered against his son Amit Thackeray and others for allegedly removing a photograph of PM Modi at the Government Polytechnic Pune.
Raj Thackeray also raised linguistic politics, claiming non-Marathi speakers are being manipulated to spark language disputes.
Just as he was walking off the stage, an MNS worker raised the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long Live the Revolution). Thackeray paused, returned to the podium and inquired who had raised it.
When a party worker came forward, Thackeray endorsed the gesture, saying the slogan was first raised by legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and encouraged MNS cadres to use it freely.
