A day after the Shiv Sena demanded a ban on the burqa, the party mouthpiece Saamna asked for punitive action against mosques that flout noise pollution norms by using loudspeakers.
On Wednesday, an editorial in the newspaper said: “Loudspeakers blaring out azaan atop mosques in Bhendi Bazar and Behrampada disturb sleep and children’s studies. Action should be taken against them too.” This comment was made taking into consideration the police case filed against the party for violating silence zone norms at Shivaji Park during its Dussehra rally on October 17.
Saamna has also targeted anti-noise activist Sumaira Abdulali for submitting her noise-level mapping reports to the police. “Why hasn’t she filed complaints against the mosques? She was sitting at Shivaji Park and mapping the noise level, but the device to measure our voice level is yet to be discovered,” said the editorial.
“The cacophony due to illegal migrants has crossed the 500 decibel mark and Bangladeshi intruders have reached the highest possible level. We also know the law. Nobody should teach us law. Law should respect our feelings; then we will respect law.”
A ban on loudspeakers in mosques is the third demand that the Sena has made within a month. Earlier, it demanded a ban on Rohinton Mistry’s book Such A Long Journey for “defaming” Marathi manoos and on Tuesday, the party had asked for a ban on the burqa.
