Aligarh BJP MP wants loudspeakers banned during ‘azaan’

Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam has urged the district officials to ban the use of loudspeakers for 'azaan', in keeping with the directives of the Allahabad High Court.

The MP told reporters that the high court has permitted 'azaan' from mosques but without loudspeakers. He said he had met the authorities for implementation for the same, as many mosques in the city were found violating the orders and using loudspeakers early in the morning.

The Allahabad High Court on May 15 had allowed 'azaan' from mosques but said that the use of loudspeakers could not be permitted. The court said that 'azaan' was a part of Islam but using loudspeakers were not a part of the religion.

When contacted, District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh, said that Supreme Court guidelines in this matter said the sound system could be seized and confiscated only if they were found to be creating noise beyond the permissible limits.

"If we receive further order from the state government in this regard, we will implement it," he said.

BJP MLA Sanjeev Raja also said that the high court order should be implemented in letter and spirit.

Former Samajwadi party MLA, Zamirullah Khan, said that these leaders were raising this issue to target Muslims. "Instead of fighting the coronavirus, they are concerned about announcements of 'azaan' on loudspeakers," he added .

He even went on to claim that some political leaders were spreading coronavirus across the city and their samples should also be taken for testing.

Khan said, "All of them, including MP and MLAs, had attended the religious rituals after demise of a real estate developer's mother. Later, the businessman also succumbed to the virus and several of his family members were also reported positive. However, they have not been quarantined."