Daijiworld Media Network – Kolkata
Kolkata, Aug 6: A political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after several Muslim leaders alleged that police have been pressuring mosques across the state to remove loudspeakers used for the azan, the Islamic call to prayer, as part of the implementation of noise pollution regulations.
Several mosque committees claimed they had received verbal instructions from local police stations directing them to remove or replace loudspeakers.
The issue is expected to be raised before Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday by a faction of the Trinamool Congress led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
Meanwhile, three rebel Trinamool Congress MPs – Yusuf Pathan, Khalilur Rahaman and Abu Taher Khan – met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday and submitted a memorandum expressing concern over the issue.
The MPs urged the Centre to ensure that noise pollution norms are implemented without infringing upon religious freedom or hurting religious sentiments.
The controversy follows the BJP government's decision, taken during its first Cabinet meeting, to enforce court-mandated noise pollution regulations across all religious institutions.
Under the prescribed norms, permissible sound levels are limited to 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
According to reports, state police were instructed to ensure compliance with the decibel limits, following which several imams said mosque committees had been advised to replace conventional loudspeakers with sound boxes.
Defending the government's action, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the administration was merely implementing court directives.
He said the sound from both mosques and temples should remain confined within their respective premises and should not extend beyond the compound walls.
Adhikari stated that police had been instructed accordingly and asserted that no coercive action was being taken.
According to the Chief Minister, a total of 5,299 loudspeakers have been removed following police directions, including about 4,203 from mosques and 1,096 from temples.
He claimed that mosque committees had cooperated with the administration and that police had specifically been directed not to act forcefully.
Rebel Trinamool Congress MLA Akhruzzaman criticised the move, saying every citizen has a constitutional right to practise their religion.
"This is a secular country. We will raise this issue with the Chief Minister," he said.
He added that just as Hindus are free to visit temples and offer prayers, Muslims should also be able to attend mosques, recite the azan and offer namaz without interference.
Former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury warned that large-scale protests could be launched if the issue was not resolved.
Chowdhury, who heads the Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, alleged that police personnel had visited several mosques and pressured their management committees to remove loudspeakers.
Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui said he may approach the Calcutta High Court and has written to the state's Director General of Police seeking clarification on whether any official order had been issued.
In his letter, the Bhangar MLA said many mosque committees had already reduced the volume of loudspeakers and argued that those found violating the prescribed norms should receive formal notices and be given an opportunity to present their case.
He also sought a standard operating procedure for enforcing noise pollution regulations and demanded an inquiry against police personnel found to have exceeded their authority.
Rejecting the criticism, West Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya said everyone has the democratic right to protest but accused opposition parties of adopting "double standards."
"This is a democratic country. Anyone is free to protest. This is not the rule of Babur, nor a Tughlaq-style administration," he said.
He added that politics based on the notion that only one viewpoint should prevail would not be accepted by the people of West Bengal.