“Do not enter mosques, it may lead to a law and order situation” : Ajit Pawar

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s Directive to BJP Leader Kirit Somaiya
Somaiya is verifying unauthorised loudspeakers on mosques

Kirit Somaiya (left), Deputy CM Ajit Pawar (right)

Mumbai – In the meeting with Muslim leaders and top Police officials on the removal of loudspeakers from mosques in Mumbai, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on 25th June 2025 directed Police not to take any wrongful actions while instructing Kirit Somaiya not to visit the mosque, citing potential law and order issues.

This comes after the delegation of Muslim leaders complained of campaigns against loudspeakers by Somaiya in several areas of Mumbai, as well as Police action on removing the loudspeakers. Despite compliance with the Court’s order of permissible noise levels under 56 decibels, Muslim representatives alleged that Police have been harassing mosque committees.

“If tension arises, Somaiya will be held responsible” – A threat from Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi

Samajwadi Party state chief Abu Azmi said, “One person like Kirit Somaiya has created pressure in Mumbai. Muslims are targeted and harassed. This issue has been created only in Mumbai, not across the entire country. Mosques and loudspeakers exist nationwide. This is an attempt to incite hatred. Somaiya has deliberately tried to create a controversy. He is standing outside mosques and making videos of them. The same rules should apply to temples too. Noise pollution doesn’t happen only due to Azaan. This issue can be resolved through dialogue. If any tension arises, Somaiya will be held responsible, Muslim organizations and Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi warned.

🔊🕌 Ajit Pawar warns BJP’s Kirit Somaiya:
“Don’t go near the mosque, it could create a law & order issue!” ⚠️

Somaiya was set to act against illegal mosque loudspeakers.

Instead of threats, Pawar should’ve ordered their removal! ❌🔉

😡 “If tensions arise, Somaiya will be… pic.twitter.com/hwbYUqCtub

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) June 25, 2025

“Action is being taken on loudspeakers outside the court-mandated limits !” – Ashish Shelar, MLA, BJP

“Somaiya is doing the right thing. His stand is appropriate. The court has ordered the removal of unauthorized loudspeakers. Action is being taken on those beyond the court’s limits. Society troubled by the noise has approached the court. Hence, loudspeakers that fall outside legal limits must be removed”, said BJP leader Ashish Shelar in support of Somaiya.

“It’s impossible to maintain court-prescribed sound limits !” – Deven Bharti, Mumbai Police Commissioner

Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti stated that the Mumbai High Court has set the volume limit for loudspeakers between 46 and 56 decibels. Maintaining that limit is impossible, as even the voices in this meeting exceed that level. He added that 1,500 unauthorized loudspeakers have already been removed from Mumbai.

Congress leader Naseem Khan said:

Police are removing loudspeakers with a show of force. We will assist the Police. The matter is pending in court. These kinds of rules don’t exist anywhere else in the country. Even Gujarat doesn’t have such rules. (Had the loudspeakers been removed voluntarily, this situation wouldn’t have arisen. It is very clear that if the Police don’t show force, then the Muslims would have shown their strength by rioting. – Editor)

Editorial Perspective

Instead of giving such a directive to Kirit Somaiya, who is working towards action on unauthorized loudspeakers on mosques, Pawar should have ordered the administration to remove these loudspeakers. That would actually resolve the issue !