After Varsity VC, UP minister seeks ban on 'azaan' through loudspeakers

Allahabad University VC said that she was not against any religion but any religious practice must not disturb others

Within days of Allahabad Central University vice-chancellor terming it as ''noise pollution'', an Uttar Pradesh minister has sought a ban on 'azaan' (a call from the mosques for prayers at prescribed times) through loudspeakers saying that it adversely impacted the health of the people besides creating many other problems.

Minister of state for rural development Anand Swaroop Shukla, in a letter to the district magistrate of Ballia, about 400 kilometres from here, demanded that the loudspeakers installed atop the various mosques in Ballia town be removed forthwith.

''It (azaan) is creating problems for me.....I am finding it difficult to perform yoga, worship, meditation and undertake official works owing to the noise,'' Shukla said in his letter.

''Loudspeakers are used for religious programs, appeal for donations and other information.....the high decibel sound is also affecting the studies of the students and impacting the health of the older people and the sick,'' he said.

He has asked the district magistrate to get the loudspeakers installed on the mosques removed and direct the caretakers of the mosques to follow the supreme court guidelines on the level of sound.

Barely a few days back Allahabad University VC Professor Sangeeta Srivastava, in a letter entitled ''Noise Pollution in Civil Lines'', to the district magistrate, said that she was not against any religion but any religious practice must not disturb others.

''Every day in the morning at about 5.30 AM, my sleep is disturbed due to loud azaan done on the mike by the maulvi in the surrounding mosque...even before the Eid, they announce seheri (breakfast before Roza) at 4 AM....the sleep so disturbed does not resume even after trying very hard...this also results in headache throughout the day,'' she had said in the letter.

The letter, however, triggered sharp reactions from the Muslim clerics, who referred to the 'bhajan-kirtans' and 'artis' in the temples to question the VC.