Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader KS Eshwarappa landed in a soup after he made controversial remark while speaking about Azaan and said that if loudspeakers are used for prayers, it suggests that “Allah is deaf”. He also said that Azaan gives him a headache.
Senior BJP leader and former minister KS Eshwarappa was addressing a public gathering when Azaan went out from a mosque nearby. “Wherever I go, this (Azaan) gives me a headache,” Eshwarappa said. “Supreme Court’s judgment is due, if not today, this call for Azaan will come to an end.”
Further, Eshwarappa asked if Allah will listen to prayers only if loudspeakers are used during Azaan. “In temples, girls and women offer prayers and bhajans. We are religious, but we don’t use loudspeakers. If you have to call for prayers using loudspeakers, it means Allah is deaf,” he added.
Wherever I go this is a headache for me. I have no doubt there will be an end to this soon as there is a Supreme Court judgement. Honourable PM Modi has asked us to respect all religions, but I must ask can Allah hear only if you scream on a microphone?”
“Even we Hindus pray in temples, sing shlokas and bhajans, we have more faith than them and it’s Bharat mata that protects religions, but if you say that Allah listens only if you pray with a microphone I must question if he’s deaf, it’s not needed, this issue must be resolved,” he said.
In July, the Supreme Court had banned the use of loudspeakers between 10 pm to 6 am except in the cases of public emergencies. The apex court cited health impacts of noise pollution as reason behind the ban. Later, in October 2005, the court said loudspeakers could be permitted to be used till midnight on festive occasions for 15 days a year.
