Ajit Pawar Urges Police to Act Fairly in Mosque Loudspeaker Dispute

Fast Summary:

• Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar directed police not to take wrongful actions regarding loudspeaker removal from mosques and instructed Kirit Somaiya not to visit the mosque citing law and order concerns.
• Muslim leaders alleged harassment by police despite compliance with permissible noise levels (46-56 decibels) mandated by the High Court. They claimed actions were politically motivated and influenced by campaigns led by Somaiya against loudspeakers.
• Delegation members, including AIMIM’s Waris Pathan, Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi, Nawab Malik, and others, demanded a streamlined one-window permission system for loudspeakers but noted that decisions on this are pending further discussions.
• Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti stated 1500 loudspeakers had been removed in the city but also highlighted challenges of adhering to court-mandated decibel limits. Pawar emphasized lawful enforcement without undue harassment or political interference.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The ongoing controversy around mosque loudspeakers touches upon broader issues of religious freedom versus regulatory enforcement in densely populated urban settings like Mumbai. While compliance with decibel restrictions aims at balancing civic noise concerns, allegations of selective targeting raise questions about equitable request of laws across communities. Ajit Pawar’s directive suggests an attempt to mitigate escalating tensions while ensuring adherence to legal frameworks without political bias or excesses from law enforcement agencies. Future clarity on streamlining permissions could reduce bureaucratic hurdles but must be approached judiciously considering sensitivities involved.

Read More: Mosque loudspeaker Row: Ajit Pawar Directs Police Not To Take Any Wrongful Action