Sonu Nigam faces music after azaan' noise tweet
In 2005, the SC had stated that religion should not be a reason to violate noise pollution rules.
Mumbai: Singer Sonu Nigam on Monday took to Twitter complaining about noise pollution caused by azaan (a call for daily prayers at stipulated times outside a mosque) near his house.
He tweeted: “God bless everyone. I'm not a Muslim and I have to be woken up by the azaan in the morning. When will this forced religiousness end in India.” He even termed it as “gundagardi”.
Soon after his tweet, anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali shot off a letter to the various officers including the state environment secretary, stating that noise pollution is not restricted to any one particular religious place but all religious places. “I do not support Mr Nigam’s comments related to noise pollution from one single religion only. I want the government to enforce rules as per the HC orders,” Ms Abdulali said. “Police does not take action, stating that it is a sensitive issue,” she added. Citing orders of the Supreme Court and Bombay high court, Ms Abdulali, who runs the Awaaz Foundation requested the ministry to implement the rules at all religious places that contribute to noise pollution.
In 2005, the SC had stated that religion should not be a reason to violate noise pollution rules.
In August 2016, a Bombay high court order stated that there must be no loud noise between 10 pm and 6 am anywhere. The HC had also said that a religious place is a “Silent Zone” and one cannot use a loudspeaker there.
Ms Abdulali sent the letter to Satish Gavai, environment secretary of the state, Ajoy Mehta, municipal commissioner, Datta Padsalgikar, commissioner of police and P. Anbalagan, member secretary Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
The Bombay HC, while passing its final order in August 2016, had directed that noise pollution in religious places should be controlled in harmony with the Silence Zone norms. These norms do not permit loudspeaker use within Silence Zones.
Ms Abdulali said that the HC order applies to all religious places. According to Awaaz Foundation, several religious communities have supported this rule. In 2005, the Muslim community had stopped early morning azaans on loudspeakers following the SC order of July 2005, the Foundation said.