Azaan Disturbs Students, Patients, Elderly, Says Karnataka Minister
NDTV
The controversy over the Azaan flared in Maharashtra this weekend, just ahead of the elections for India's richest municipal body - the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC.
Hijab, halal meat, Muslim traders and now the Azaan - Karnataka's ruling BJP identified the state's latest affliction on Tuesday with senior party leader and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa importing the debate over the Islamic prayer call from neighbouring Maharashtra with express shipping.
"I have been hearing that Azaan through loudspeakers disturbs students. 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," Mr Eshwarappa told reporters in Karwar.
"This is my view on banning loudspeakers. This isn't a competition between Muslims calling for prayers through loudspeakers and Hindus chanting Hanuman Chalisa. And because of the Azaan, it is an issue for students, patients and the elderly," he said.
His comment was met with opposition from Congress leader Priyank Kharge who said, "Let all BJP and Bajrang Dal workers stop using petrol and diesel since it's imported from Islamic countries. Show your real Hindutva here. There are Pollution Control Board norms and Supreme Court orders on loudspeakers, let them implement them. It talks about what to do with temples, mosques and churches."
