Amid row over loudspeakers in his state, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, said that his government will implement the Supreme Court order regarding loudspeakers in a phased manner. His assurance came a day after the government detained several Sri Ram Sene workers for playing Hanuman Chalisa and Suprabhatam on loudspeakers, to counter Azaan.
“The Supreme Court on Monday has issued an order on the use of loudspeakers in public places, the then State government too had in 2002 issued an order in this regard. Action would be taken to implement it in a cordial manner,” Bommai assured.
he was talking to reporters after attending an event organized by the Gayathri Peetha Mutt. Bommai said that there is a Supreme Court order on the use of loudspeakers in religious and public spaces. In addition, the Union government has also issued an order in accordance with the Central Pollution Control Board recommendations.
Onus of implementing order lies with police: Bommai
“The onus of implementing the order lies with police officers of the rank of Deputy SP in their respective areas. The order specifies details on various aspects of the issue like whether the loudspeakers are used all through the year, and the need to obtain clearance for this. Suitable guidelines would be issued to enforce the order,” Bommai said, while adding that the Karnataka government issued an order for the implementation of PCB recommendation in 2002.
Urging people to maintain peace and communal harmony, Bommai said that no one should take law into their hands. The loudspeaker row, that started with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena warned the Maharashtra government of an agitation if the loudspeakers on mosques were not silenced by May 3. In Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government removed over lakh loudspeakers from mosques. In Karnataka, a similar warning was issued by Pramod Muthalik-led Sri Ram Sene.
