Report of Online webinar on ‘Azaan from loudspeakers : Constitutional or Unconstitutional ?’

The issue of unauthorized loudspeakers in mosques is not limited to noise pollution but it is ‘Land Jihad’ to drive away Hindus ! – Shri. Santosh Pachalag, Petitioner

‘Kapadianagar (Kurla) in Mumbai was inhabited by 50% Hindus. Unauthorized loudspeakers were installed on several mosques and the call to prayer in a very deafening voice was started. Tired of the constant distress, the Hindus sold their houses to the Muslims and left. Today, only 3% of Hindus are left there. This is a form of driving away Hindus. Therefore, the issue of unauthorized loudspeakers being installed on mosques is not only limited to noise pollution but also a planned ‘land jihad’ to drive away Hindus’, said Shri. Santosh Pachalag who had filed a petition against unauthorised loudspeakers on mosques. He was speaking at an online special webinar organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti on ‘Azaan from loudspeakers : Constitutional or Unconstitutional ?’ The programme was viewed by 13000 people on Facebook and YouTube.

Shri. Pachalag further said, “Winning petitions against unauthorized loudspeakers on 45 mosques in Navi Mumbai is just the beginning, and we have filed contempt petitions in the High Court against 3,200 unauthorized loudspeakers in the State. This fight is on. The rulers will not side us unless Hindus increase their united participation in it because rulers just run after the groups. For this, we have to create a united force of Hindus”.

While participating in the seminar, Shri. Neeraj Atri of ‘Vivekanand Karya Samiti’ from Haryana said, “The Azaan we hear – hardly anyone knows what it means. It is said in Azaan ‘Allah is the Supreme. I testify that no one else in this world deserves to be worshipped except Allah’. This message is heard five times a day across the country. In a way, this is an insult to Hindu Deities and a way of hurting the religious sentiments of non-Muslims. Action should be taken against it”.

Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, National President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad said “Hindus from all places should come together in the fight against unauthorized loudspeakers. The group should lodge a Police complaint with on emergency number 100 and through social media like ‘Twitter’ and ‘Facebook’. Also, complaints should be launched with the National Green Tribunal, District Collector, etc. Under the Environmental Protection Act, a person who causes noise pollution is punishable by five years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh. These laws should be used by us”.

Speaking on the occasion, the President of ‘Akhand Bharat Morcha’ from New Delhi, Shri. Sandeep Ahuja said, “Unauthorized loudspeakers on mosques are being used as a weapon to call for jihad. The Police do not take cognisance of the complaints against unauthorized loudspeakers at mosques. I went to the National Green Tribunal against unauthorized loudspeakers on 10 mosques in Delhi. Since there was a Muslim judge there, he first tried to pressurised me to withdraw the petition. However, because we stood firm on a legal position, he had to accept the petition. However, since he did not give the expected decision, we had to approach the Supreme Court.