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

Giving ‘azaan’ can be a religious right; but for that, having loudspeakers in mosques cannot be a religious right. Also, action should be taken against the loudspeakers for creating noise pollution and causing a breach of the fundamental rights of citizens, 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 Uttar Pradesh under the contempt of Court, for not following the Supreme Court’s orders regarding Babri Masjid, similar action should be taken against all the State Governments for not stopping noise pollution taking place through loudspeakers on mosques and causing contempt of Court, was the frank opinion given by Lashkar-e-Hind’s national President Ishwarprasad Khandelwal while participating in the special online discussion programme held by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on the topic ‘Noise pollution from loudspeakers on mosques: What do the law and Court say ?’ He was answering the questions asked by Mr Vaibhav Aphale of HJS and Ms Kranti Pethkar.

Mr Khandelwal said while answering the questions that the loudspeakers fixed on prayer houses were being used for creating awe and bitterness in society rather than for religious matters. A PLI was filed by the former Central Minister Salman Khurshid and BSP’s MP Afzal Ansari in the year 2020 for obtaining permission to give ‘azaan’ through loudspeakers from mosques during Ramzan. The High Court had, however, clearly said that instead of using loudspeakers, ‘azaan’ can be given from minarets of mosques. It was also a breach of the fundamental right of those, by forcibly making them hear ‘azaan’ when it was not required and not liked. The Court had stated that action should be taken if ‘azaan’ was given using loudspeakers without permission or against the law related to noise pollution.

Hindus always follow Court’s decisions given on Hindus’ festivals like ‘Dahi-handi’ or other religious festivals and the Government also meticulously implements the orders; but when it comes to Muslims, they never follow Court’s orders, and it was once again proved in Karnataka’s ‘hijab’ case. Moreover, many maulanas keep inciting Muslims. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that the demand to remove loudspeakers from mosques was a futile discussion. It is happening for appeasement of Muslims. Mr Khandelwal said in the end that the State Governments should, on their own, follow orders of the Supreme Court and 15 High Courts.