Take action against all State Governments that don’t follow Supreme Court’s order on removal of loudspeakers from mosques ! : Ishwarprasad Khandelwal

Mumbai – “Azaan can be a religious right; however, blaring from loudspeakers cannot be a religious right. Action should be taken against those using loudspeakers for creating noise pollution and violating the fundamental rights of citizens – this was the clear order of the Supreme Court and about 15 Courts in different States. The way action was taken against the Kalyan Singh Government of UP for contempt of Court for not following the Supreme Court orders on Babri Masjid, action should also be taken against all State Governments for not stopping noise pollution taking place through loudspeakers on mosques”, said Mr Ishwarprasad Khandelwal (National President of ‘Lashkar-e-Hind’) while participating in the Special Online Discussion organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti on ‘Noise pollution from loudspeakers on mosques : What do the law and Courts say ?’

Take action against all the State Governments that don’t follow Supreme Court’s decision on removal of loudspeakers from mosques ! – Ishwarprasad Khandelwal National President Lashkar-e-Hind https://t.co/VJb6Sr18i2 #LoudspeakerRow pic.twitter.com/awoh8jDkYE

— HJS Karnataka (@HJSKarnataka) May 5, 2022

Important aspects raised by Mr Khandelwal

1. Forcing citizens to listen to Azaan violates their fundamental rights : The use of loudspeakers in places of worship continues to create nuisance and bitterness in society. In UP, a PIL was filed in 2020 by former Minister Salman Khurshid and BSP MP Afzal Ansari seeking permission for Azaan from mosques during Ramzan. In its ruling, the High Court clearly said, “Azaan should be given from the minarets of mosques without using loudspeakers”. Forcing citizens to listen to it violates their fundamental rights. The Court had said that strict action should be taken against those who use loudspeakers without permission or in violation of the Noise Pollution Act.

2. Hindus abide by Court judgements, but minorities ignore them : On the one hand, Hindus immediately abide by the Court’s judgements during Hindu religious festivals such as Dahihandi, etc. and the Government also acts strictly. However, it is clear that the minorities do not abide by the Court’s judgements, which is evident from the Hijab case in Karnataka. On the contrary, many Moulanas provoke religious fanatics.

3. Efforts are being made across the country to appease minorities : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that the demand to remove loudspeakers from mosques is a meaningless issue. This is going on all over the country to appease the minorities. In fact, the orders of the Supreme Court and 15 High Courts should be complied with by the State Governments themselves.