A major controversy has erupted in West Bengal after several Muslim leaders claimed that mosques across the state were being pressured by police to remove loudspeakers used for the azan, or call to prayer. Several mosque committees alleged that they received verbal instructions from local police stations regarding the removal of loudspeakers.
The Trinamool Congress faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee is set to raise the issue with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday.
Meanwhile, three rebel TMC MPs – former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, Khalilur Rahaman and Abu Taher Khan – met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday and submitted a memorandum over the matter.
The MPs expressed concern over the protection of religious freedom and urged the Centre to ensure that noise pollution norms are enforced without hurting religious sentiments.
WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT?
In its first Cabinet meeting, the BJP government decided to implement court-mandated noise pollution rules across all religious institutions.
Under these rules, the permissible sound limit is 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the state police was asked to ensure compliance with the decibel limits, and several imams said mosque committees were advised to replace loudspeakers with sound boxes.
CHIEF MINISTER DEFENDS ACTION
Amid the growing row, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari defended the action and said the government was only implementing court orders.
He stated that the sound from mosques and temples must remain within their respective premises and should not travel beyond the compound, and that police had been instructed accordingly.
The Chief Minister said that a total of 5,299 loudspeakers had been dismantled from mosques and temples after police directions. Of these, around 4,203 were removed from mosques and 1,096 from temples.
He added that police had been specifically instructed not to act forcefully and claimed that mosque committees had cooperated with the administration.
Rebel Trinamool MLA Akhruzzaman said people of all faiths have the constitutional right to practise their religion. “This is a secular country. We will raise this issue with the Chief Minister,” he said.
“Hindus should be free to visit temples and offer prayers. In the same way, Muslims should be able to go to mosques, recite the azan and offer namaz. This is our culture, and it should remain intact,” he added.
MUSLIM LEADERS WARN OF PROTESTS
Former Bengal minister and TMC leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury warned of a large-scale agitation if the issue was not addressed.
Chowdhury, who heads the Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, alleged that police personnel visited several mosques and pressured their managements to remove loudspeakers.
Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui said he might move the High Court and wrote to the Bengal Director General of Police seeking clarification on whether any official order had been issued.
In his letter, the Bhangar MLA said several mosque committees had already reduced the volume of loudspeakers and argued that those violating the rules should receive formal notices and be given an opportunity to present their case.
He also demanded a standard operating procedure for implementing noise pollution norms and sought an inquiry against police personnel found to have exceeded their authority.
BJP REJECTS CRITICISM
The ruling BJP has dismissed the criticism.
Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya said everyone had the democratic right to protest, but political parties should avoid “double standards”.
“This is a democratic country. Anyone is free to protest. This is not the rule of Babur, nor a Tughlaq-style administration,” he said.
“Politics based on the idea that only my views should prevail and not yours will not be accepted by the people of Bengal,” Bhattacharya added.
– Ends
