After Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray stoked controversy, seeking ban on loudspeakers atop mosques and sought to counter them by playing Hanuman Chalisa from MNS offices, Karnataka Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa pointed out that the prayers through loudspeakers in mosques are disturbing the elderly and the students.
The minister, on Tuesday, sought a solution to this problem, taking into confidence the Muslim community in the state.
The minister said he has been hearing that the azaan through loudspeakers disturb students, patients and elderly. "The community has for long followed the tradition of calling for prayers using loudspeakers, and this is an issue even for their own children's studies," the minister was quoted as saying.
He said this is not a competition between Muslims using loudspeakers for prayers and Hindus countering it by chanting Hanuman Chalisa. “I have no objections to you (Muslims) offering prayers, but if prayers are offered at temples and churches also, through loudspeakers in a similar fashion, it will lead to conflict."
A few Hindu outfits in the state, led by Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sena, have been seeking a ban on loudspeakers in mosques. According to media reports, some of these groups are planning to counter azaan with chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ through loudspeakers.
Times of India reported that the government has directed the police to beef up security in sensitive areas in the wake of the demands.
