Indian state removes loudspeakers from mosques ahead of Eid
LUCKNOW: The government in the India state of Uttar Pradesh has ordered the removal of loudspeakers from religious places including mosques ahead of Eid.
The festive occasion of Eid and Hindu festival Akshaya Tritiya likely to fall on the same day next month and several other festivals lined up in the coming days, leading authorities to see such pressures to avoid communal violence recently witnessed across the country.
The move comes days after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directive for restricting the volume of loudspeakers at religious places in order to avoid trouble for people living nearby. The government has also asked the Police to coordinate with religious leaders and get the orders implemented.
Meanwhile, the ongoing drive against illegal loudspeakers and checking the volume of loudspeakers playing above the permissible limit has met with considerable success. According to Indian media reports, so far 128 loudspeakers have been brought down, and around 17,000 people have reduced the volume of such devices.
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The biggest temple and mosque in Badagaon in Jhansi district have taken down the loudspeakers from their respective premises. Ram Janki temple and Sunni Jama Masjid both located a few metres away from each other decided to bring down the loudspeakers.
UP government has been claiming that drive is not focused on any particular religion, saying that loudspeaker volumes at key temples have also been lowered.
Last week, Chief Minister Adityanath had directed that no religious procession should be taken out without permission and that usage of loudspeakers should not inconvenience others.
