Maharashtra police are repeatedly bearing their anti-Hindu fangs, as has been evidenced in the recent incidents reported from across the state. The latest incident is reported from Nandurbar, where the police have been accused of issuing an ‘Islamic fatwa’ asking Hindus to turn down volumes of their television during Namaz (Islamic prayer).
In a notice issued on 21 March, Nandurbar City Police ordered citizens to keep the volumes of their TV sets low during ‘Namaz’, failing which they would be prosecuted. The notice cites the Noise Pollution Rules—2000 and states that those violating the rules would be liable for punishment under the rules, as mentioned earlier.
The notice further noted that they received verbal complaints from Muslim residents of the Civil Hospital area stating that they were disturbed by the ‘loud’ volume of TVs when they performed ‘Namaz’ at Sehri (breaking the fast in the evening). It asks people to keep the volumes of their TVs and sound systems low so that no discordance is created between Hindus and Muslims. The Police also stated that the notice would be used as proof in court against the violators.
While Nandurbar Police is bending backwards to please Islamists, earlier this month, Nasik’s Panchavati Police served notice to the city’s famous Kalaram Mandir for ‘illegal’ loudspeaker. The swiftness with which police act in cases relating to temples is lacking when they are to act against masjids/mosques. Despite the Supreme Court order against loudspeakers, several mosques continue to use them. Moreover, often, the police fail to implement the orders strictly and end up discouraging the complainants, who are Hindus, more often than not.
Authorities repeatedly display their bias against Hindus, a case in point being Selu Municipal authorities. Selu Municipal authorities are reportedly forcing Hindus to remove saffron flags and pictures of Hindu deities from their homes, citing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The issue was flagged on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by the legal organisation Legal Rights Observatory (LRO).
On the one hand, Muslims get a free pass to play the Azaan five times a day through loudspeakers in mosques and masjid in violation of SC orders, and on the other, Hindus are served notices for playing television sets and sound systems inside their homes. How is this equality and justice? Will the BJP coalition Mahayuti Sarkar take cognisance of the issue and act accordingly?
(Featured Image Source: ThosPrahar News)
