New Delhi. Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Affairs, has also given his reaction amid the ongoing loudspeaker controversy in the country. He has said that ‘no one can do Dadagiri in mosques’. The caretakers of religious places will have to fix the loudspeaker volume there. Athawale made this statement on Saturday, April 30, 2022, during his visit to Hyderabad. Let me tell you, at this time he is in Hyderabad, from where he also objected to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray’s statement related to removing loudspeakers from mosques and said, “Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray has announced that loudspeakers should be removed from mosques or else he will start reciting Hanuman Chalisa. We oppose Thackeray’s role in this issue. Those looking after the religious places will have to fix the volume of the loudspeaker.” Athawale further said that- ‘Republican Party opposes to stop ‘Azaan’ or remove the loudspeaker from the mosque and read Hanuman Chalisa in front of the mosque. Republican Party always supports Hindu-Muslim unity.
He further said that ‘strict action should be taken against those creating problems’. Describing Thackeray’s statement as against the Constitution, he said that ‘his party opposes the stand of MNS.’ Meanwhile, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SubhaSP) chief OP Rajbhar has questioned the issue and said that ‘if the sound emanating from the loudspeaker causes so much trouble to the people, then why do they ban the DJ of the procession. ?’ In fact, he was asked by a Hindi news channel whether he is in favor of removing loudspeakers from religious places or not? To this he replied- ‘Government is adopting all these tactics to divert attention from inflation and unemployment. It was just yesterday, I was coming from the procession. The DJ of the procession was playing so loudly that ‘our car was shaking.’ It seemed to me that the car would explode (with a loud noise). Why is it not banned? Why don’t we ban DJs at weddings?
On the government’s statement not to allow Namaz on the road, he further said, “People come out only when there is a crowd in the mosques. Who would want to come out in this heat? The Kanwar Yatra of Hindus also takes place on the road…but it will be stopped.” However, he clarified this point and said that, I do not mean to say that Kanwar Yatra should be stopped, but if there is space outside in the mosque, then it should be allowed to study there. How long is Namaz offered in the Masjid? Their intention is not to occupy the road, whereas in the Kanwar Yatra, the road is captured.