After Maha, loudspeaker row escalates in K’taka

CM BOMMAI ISSUED DIRECTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AN SC ORDER ON LOUDSPEAKER USE AT RELIGIOUS PLACES

BENGALURU: The row over use of loudspeakers in mosques in Karnataka escalated on Monday after a right wing group played the Hanuman Chalisa and Hindu devotional songs at around 5 am during the time of namaz.

Recorded versions or bhajans being recited by those present at the temples were played out by Sri Rama Sene, a right wing group, as part of a campaign against the state government’s alleged failure to crackdown against the use of loudspeakers in mosques.

“According to our announcement, we had warned the government against the use of loudspeakers in mosques for the last one year. But no change or action was taken. The government’s notice (to mosques) seemed like an eyewash. Mosques continue to recite the ‘azaan’ over loudspeakers from 5 am. They have not reduced the volume as well,” Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik said.

Muthalik on Sunday asked chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and home minister Araga Jnanendra to show the “guts”, shown by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath there, by taking action against unauthorised loudspeakers from religious places and setting the volume of others within permissible limits.

The loudspeaker saga began when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray, on April 2, gave an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, or the Hanuman Chalisa would be read outside these mosques using loudspeakers.

Amid the developments, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai issued directions for strict implementation of a Supreme Court order on use of loudspeakers at religious places.

“It has been decided to follow the Supreme Court, Government of India and state government’s orders. Details on implementation, authorities for it like deputy superintendent of police and above rank officials are all mentioned in the order. It also mentions the need to take permission for those who want to use loudspeakers throughout the year,” he added.

No one should take law into their hands, the chief minister added.