72% Mumbai mosques have reduced volume, others have stopped using loudspeakers during morning azaan
Mumbai: Amid the loudspeaker row in Maharashtra, sources in the Mumbai Police have said that a majority of the mosques in the metropolitan city have already reduced the volume of the loudspeakers while many have altogether stopped using these for morning azaan during the holy month of Ramzan.
Sources said as per a survey carried out by the Mumbai Police on loudspeaker sound, it was found that nearly 72 per cent of the mosques in Mumbai have greatly reduced the loudspeakers’ volume for morning Azaan, while many have altogether stopped using loudspeakers for the same.
The news came a day after the Maharashtra unit of All India Sunni Jamiyatul-Ulama sought permission from the Mumbai Police to use loudspeakers atop masjids to relay azaan. Sayed Moinuddin Ashraf, state unit president of the All India Sunni Jamiyatul-Ulama, said they decided to approach the Mumbai Police after some people spoke out against the use of loudspeakers by mosques.
The outfit said it has written a letter Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey to seek necessary clarifications on the matter. Ashraf said mosques in Mumbai were already following Supreme Court guidelines on the use of loudspeakers.
"You are kindly requested to instruct all police stations of Mumbai to grant permission immediately to those who apply for it. We are also guiding the trustees of masjids to apply immediately for the permission of loudspeakers," the letter stated.
*Raj Thackeray's ultimatum on loudspeakers in mosques*
Earlier, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray had warned on April 2 that if the Maharashtra government fails to remove loudspeakers from mosques, used to relay azaan, by May 3, then his party would start playing Hanuman Chalisa at high volume using loudspeakers.
Amid the controversy, Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey had categorically stated that any person or party wanting to relay any kind of bhajan using loudspeakers, 15 minutes before or after azaan, would have to take prior permission from the police. He warned of a 6-month jail term for violators of the order.
State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, meanwhile, Monday had stated that the Director General of Police and the Mumbai Police Commissioner were working to frame guidelines on the use of loudspeakers in public places and that these would be released within days.
"Maharashtra DGP along with the Mumbai police commissioner will formulate guidelines on the use of loudspeakers in public places. These guidelines will be issued in the next 1-2 days," stated the state home minister. "We have kept an eye on the law and order situation in the state. Strict action will be taken against those who attempt to disturb peace in the state," he added.
Walse today said the Mumbai Police are fully prepared to thwart any law and order threats following the MNS's ultimatum on the removal of loudspeakers from mosques by May 3. "I don't feel that such a situation will arise. We are fully prepared and are taking steps to prevent untoward incidents,” he stated.
