Nashik police prohibit Hanuman Chalisa just before and after Azaan

Azaan
Image Courtesy:oneindia.com

Eager to maintain peace and order in volatile times, the Nashik police on April 18, 2022 banned the playing of Hanuman Chalisa, bhajan or kirtan, 15 minutes before and after azaan.

Nashik Commissioner of Police Deepak Pandey said that the police are keen to maintain the law and order situation in the city, and have thus prohibited the playing of bhajans or similar hymns within 100 meters of a mosque to respect the rights of the Muslim community. The move comes as an effective means to curb Hindutva terrorism and the spread of social discord.

Speaking to a news agency, Pandey said that section 40 of the Police Rules, 1951 allows the police to enforce such laws in times of societal or religious unrest, keeping in mind legal and customary rights. “Police can direct any order to people, sections and groups. Further, regarding the MNS [Maharashtra Navnirman Sena] demand, the Markaz of Nashik and the 2005 High Court order and other noise pollution rules, the police recognises the Muslim community’s customary right to practice azaan,” said Pandey.

As such, it prohibited the playing of hanuman chalisa, bhajan or kirtan 15 minutes before and after azaan timings – 5 AM, 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Pandey said the intention is to acknowledge that any person’s rights ends where another person’s rights begin.

“In accordance with our duty to the constitution and the society, we ensure that peace and order is maintained,” he said.

Earlier, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray demanded that mosques remove their loudspeakers by Eid ie. May 3, threatening dire consequences. Over the years, Thackeray has repeatedly voiced his arguments against loudspeakers, especially after his party the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena took a drastic step and shed its original secular image in favour of a hardline Hindutva agenda.