'Not Only For Azaan, It's For All Loudspeakers', Karnataka CM Bommai On Demands To Ban Loudspeakers In Mosques

Speaking to the media, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said that it's not forced as it is a court order. He assured that the government will take a call only after talking and explaining to people

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. (Image: Twitter/ANI)

New Delhi: Amid ongoing unrest due to the hijab controversy and Halal meat row, the ring wing outfits -- Bajrang Dal and Sriram Sena -- on Monday called for a ban on loudspeakers in mosques.

Speaking to the media, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that it's not forced as it is a court order. He assured that the government will take a call only after talking and explaining to people.

"This is HC order. It's not forced. Everything has to be done by talking and explaining to people. It is not only for azaan, it is for all loudspeakers. So, we will take a call," Bommai said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

This is HC order. It's not forced. Everything has to be done by talking and explaining to people. It is not only for azaan, it is for all loudspeakers. So, we will take a call: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on demand by some orgs for a ban on loudspeakers in mosques in the state pic.twitter.com/nV0xMB6Pir

— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2022

This was started in Maharashtra when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray demanded that the loudspeakers in mosques should be shut down. After Thackeray, the right-wing outfits in Karnataka too warned that they will play Bhajans against Azaan at 5 AM as a protest.

In a video message, Sriram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik said (roughly translated from Kannada), that the Hindu outfits have been demanding that the ban on loudspeakers in mosques should be implemented and Supreme Court's order on noise pollution should also be implemented. He further said that the apex court has prohibited the usage of loudspeakers from 10 PM-6 AM.

"The order also says that loudspeakers should not be used in the silent zones such as schools and hospitals but that order is being violated by the mosque managements. We will play Bhajan every morning if the loudspeakers from mosques are not removed," Muthalik warned, as quoted by news agency PTI.