Maharashtra Government has urged the Centre to come up with uniform rules regarding the use of loudspeakers in religious places. Addressing a press conference following an All Party Meeting in Mumbai today, State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said, such situations will not arise in any state, if the Centre puts in place standard guidelines.
Mr. Patil said, the State Government had issued several guidelines between 2015 and 2017 in view of the 2005 decision of the Supreme Court on noise pollution. Citing that loudspeakers are also used during Ganesh Utsav, Navratri and even for daily prayers in many of the villages in Maharashtra, Mr. Patil said that such rules cannot be implemented just for one community and will have to be followed by one and all.
The Home Minister reiterated that giving permission for installation or removal of loudspeakers is not the State Government’s job. He added that the State Government is responsible for maintaining law and order and it will take action against all those who try to disrupt peace and harmony. Maharashtra’s Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray said that a delegation from Maharashtra will visit New Delhi and request the Centre for framing of guidelines on use of loudspeakers.
Meanwhile, BJP chose not to attend the All Party Meeting claiming that it was just an eyewash as even the Chief Minister had decided to skip it. MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who had raked up this issue in one of his public rallies earlier this month, also chose to skip the meet.
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