Hindutva outfit launches campaign to ban Fajr Adhan in India

Mangalore, May 25: In a controversial demand that may spark widespread uproar, a less popular Hindutva outfit has called for a strict ban on dawn Adhan (Fajr prayer call from Masjids) across India.

On Sunday morning, dozens of Hindutva activists including a controversial swamiji, who had earlier tried to commit suicide, staged a protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner in Mangalore to pressurize the authorities concerned to strictly impose ban on Adhan during early morning.

The protest was held under the banner of Rashtriya Hindu Andolan and some of the protesters were displaying the banner of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, an extremist Hindutva outfit. The protest comes a day ahead of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi 's swearing-in ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanatan Sanstha activist Vijayalakshmi said that even though India has granted religious freedom for all the people, followers of one religion should not misuse this freedom to disturb the followers of other religions in the society.

Using a derogatory word for Adhan, she said that when Muslims shout using loudspeakers every morning they should know that it would disturb sleep of a majority of people in the society.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti activist Vivek Pai said that the right to sleep peacefully is also comes under the ambit of fundamental rights of every Indian citizen. “The use of loudspeakers should not be permitted from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The supreme court also had directed to impose ban on playing loud music or making any type of noise between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, this ban has not been applied to the early morning Adhan,” he said adding that in some places Muslims deliberately cause noise pollution through loudspeakers in the early morning.  

He said that those who use loudspeakers for Adhan before 6 a.m. in the morning should be arrested and punished.

Rashtriya Hindu Andolan activist Ramesh Nayak said that many Masjids are located in the area of schools, colleges, hostels and hospitals. Loudspeakers used by such Masjids will always cause problems for students and patients, he added.

Bharat Kranti Sena chief Pranavananda Swami, who had tried to commit suicide in January this year to pressurize government to ban a Christian televangelist 's programme in Bangalore, said that protest against morning Adhan will continue until a strict ban on that ritual will come into force in the entire country.

Sri Ram Sena leader Kumar Malemar, Hindu Yuva Sena leader Nagesh Bajalekari were also present among others in the protest.