Hanuman Chalisa row: Maharashtra Congress state chief meets Sonia Gandhi

Amid the loudspeaker row and the controversy over ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ recitation, Maharashtra in-charge of the Congress HK Patil along with legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat on Friday met Sonia Gandhi and briefed her about the situation in the state where the Congress is a part of the MVA government.

A senior state Congress leader told the Free Press Journal, "The controversy over removal of loudspeakers from mosques and reading of Hanuman Chalisa is a ploy by BJP and MNS to create a communal tension and polarise the voters. Patil and Thorathave briefed the party president about this and submitted that the Congress is thick and thick together with allies Shiv Sena and NCP to foil attempts by BJP and MNS to create communal and religious rift in the state. Congress will hit the streets to maintain communal and social harmony.’’

Further, Patil and Thorat also discussed the performance of the Congress ministers especially amid rising displeasure among the legislators over lack of coordination and allocation of funds from their respective departments.

Today’s meeting took place days after Thorat had chaired the legislature party meeting in which legislators complained against neglect from the party ministers and lackof coordinationbetween the government and the party organisation.

Patil and Thorat have briefed Gandhi about dismal functioning of some ministers and discussed the future course of action. In addition, the Speaker’s election also came up for discussion