Dr Veda Pratap Vaidik
It is distressing that in Indian politics even the critical public interest issues are being communalized. For example, demolishing illegal constructions and banning the high decibel deafening sound emanating from religious places are to benefit the public at large, but unfortunately leaders of various sects and political parties, to promote their hidden agenda, have incited violence in the name of such constructive administrative moves.
In Mumbai, the Maharashtra Nav-Nirman Sena has threatened to recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques if the Maharashtra government did not remove loudspeakers from the mosques by May 3 (Eid day). If the Sena had demanded such restrictions for all shrines – mosques, temples, churches, gurudwaras and synagogues – it would have been justified. But targeting only mosques is nothing but absolute communalism and a blatant move to promote vote bank politics.
When the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh started a campaign against the deafening voice that often irritated the public, it did not spare any religious place. Not only in temples and mosques, he has imposed restrictions on all kinds of processions. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan, who of late is known as bulldozer uncle, has not shown any discrimination in his demolition drive against illegal constructions. Chouhan’s bulldozers pulled down more houses of Hindus than those of Muslims.
Demolition of illegal houses is fine, but why only those of the rioters? Why not a consistent campaign to demolish all illegal constructions? Proper information has to be passed on before the demolition. Apart from this, it is also necessary to immediately rebuild those houses which have been demolished wrongly and pay adequate compensation for the victims. There should not be any discrimination or prejudice in demolishing the illegal constructions or restricting the loud noises.
Many countries do not permit the loud sound of azaan from mosques or noisy chanting of hymns from temples. May I request our Mulsim brethren to have a look at Saudi Arabia and also Indonesia? From the point of view of Islam as a religion, Saudi is of utmost importance and Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. The Mosques in Saudi Arabia have loudspeakers but they cannot play more than 1/3 of their volume. In Indonesia, such restrictions are more rigorous.
In Nigeria 70 churches and 20 mosques were shut down, thanks to the intolerable sounds from those religious places. Hotels and bars have also been closed for the same reason. The sound of car horns has also been restricted there. Even in America, Britain and France, religious preachers are not free to make loud noises. In about two dozen countries of Europe wearing religious signs in public is banned.
Interestingly, these countries do not differentiate between Islam and Christianity in imposing such restrictions. When restrictions are imposed without prejudice or bias then that will be seen as judicious and the public at large will appreciate and justify such actions. I firmly feel such restrictions can help to prevent those trying to instigate innocent society in the name of religion and faith for their petty personal and political benefits, compromising the larger interests of the nation.
*Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on diplomatic and educationalmissions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen National and International awards for academic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of several Advisory Committees of Government of India.
