After the Indore administration removed 437 loudspeakers from 258 religious places of various communities in the last two days, representatives of the Muslim community met the authorities on Monday and protested against the move.
“Following the orders issued by the Madhya Pradesh government, steps were taken on Saturday to remove loudspeakers from religious places of worship. A total of 437 loudspeakers were removed from 258 different religious places of worship, exceeding the prescribed norms. This step has been taken in consultation with all groups be it temples or mosques,” said Additional DCP Rajesh Thantodia.
Rajesh Thantodia said that the management of these places has been requested not to use loudspeakers in future.
A team led by Mohd Ishrat Ali, Shahar Qazi of Indore, met Collector Ashish Singh and expressed concern over the move.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mohammad Ishrat Ali said, “Speakers have been removed from all religious places of worship in the city, be it temples or mosques. “We are demanding that loudspeakers be allowed in religious places of worship within the permissible noise limit as per Supreme Court guidelines,” he said.
Why are loudspeakers restricted only in religious places of worship? Mohammad Ishrat Ali questioned why DJs playing loud music at weddings were not banned.
District Collector Ashish Singh said loudspeakers in religious places of worship have been removed on the instructions of the state government and everyone should follow the order.
The move comes after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, in a meeting with police officials, asked them to enforce guidelines around the use of loudspeakers. A day after Mohan Yadav took office as chief minister last year, he had issued an order banning loudspeakers/DJs in religious gatherings and public places and announced a “vigorous campaign to curb illegal buying and selling of meat, fish etc”.
