As the row over the use of loudspeakers at religious places in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh simmers, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta has also urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to remove loudspeakers from religious and other places as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court.
Addressing the media, Gupta said: “In my survey of many temples and gurudwaras, I found that there was no noise pollution. Bhajans were taking place only inside the temple or gurudwara premises. The Delhi Government did not do its duty of removing loudspeakers from other religious places.” Reacting to the BJP’s new demand, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said it will oppose any move to remove loudspeakers from religious places in the national Capital and accused the BJP of playing with people's faith. AAP leader Atishi said loudspeakers are played during various religious occasions across the country and cited Ramlila as well as recitation of Hanuman Chalisa and Sunderkand paath as examples.
"We will definitely oppose it," Atishi told reporters when asked if her party would oppose any move to remove loudspeakers from religious places in Delhi. "Be it Ramlila or Sunderkand recitation, people's faith is attached to them. I want to ask what is their problem with the religious faith of people?” On Monday, he had written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in this connection, hours after BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma made a similar request to Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal and the commissioners of the municipal corporations in the national Capital.
Verma apprised Bajail that the Uttar Pradesh Government had cracked the whip on loudspeakers and sought to nudge the Delhi Government to follow suit.
The Supreme Court in 2005 banned the use of loudspeakers and music systems in public places between 10 pm and 6 am, except in cases of public emergency, citing the serious effects of noise pollution on health of local residents. In his letter to Kejriwal, Gupta stated that noise pollution in Delhi had turned out to be a major issue. As per Supreme Court's order, loudspeakers installed at religious and other places should be removed.
They are the main source of noise pollution. The top court has also said that the limit of their sound should be prescribed so that students, patients, and people working in offices are not disturbed, it stated.
“Therefore, I request you to remove loudspeakers from all these places following the court's order, on lines of other States. Violators should be punished as per the law. This is a demand of all our Delhi MPs and MLAs,” the letter further stated.
According to the reports, nearly 53,942 loudspeakers have been uninstalled from various religious places across the State till 7.00 am on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh, following the direction of the Yogi Adityanath Government.