3 weeks ago
Murshidabad MPs urge Bengal CM to stop mosque loudspeaker removals
Some important leaders called members of parliament, or MPs, went to talk to the leader of a state in India.
They were worried because loudspeakers were being taken away from mosques, where Muslim people go to pray.
The MPs said this was unfair and that Muslim people were being picked on in the state.
They asked the state leader, the chief minister, to stop taking the loudspeakers away, but they agreed that the judges' rules must still be followed.
The state leader told them that about 3,800 microphones had been removed, including nearly 1,200 from temples.
The MPs also talked about another problem — many people's names were missing from the voting lists.
About 27 lakh people (2.7 million) were left off the lists, and nearly 7 lakh of them had asked a court-like group called a tribunal to fix it.
The MPs asked the government to finish these cases by December 31.
The day before the Kolkata meeting, the MPs went to a breakfast in Delhi hosted by the country's prime minister, Narendra Modi.
Murshidabad MPs Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rehman met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna in Kolkata on Saturday over the removal of loudspeakers from mosques.
Khan alleged Muslims were being targeted in Bengal, calling the removals 'extremely unfortunate,' the removal of azaan microphones 'unprecedented since Independence,' and the police 'overenthusiastic.'
The MPs said the court's directions to curb noise pollution must be followed but appealed to the CM to stop the removals; the CM said around 3,800 microphones were removed, including nearly 1,200 from temples.
They sought fast-tracking of SIR tribunal hearings for about 27 lakh voters excluded from electoral rolls, requesting completion by December 31 due to difficulties in passport verification, land registration and access to welfare schemes.
Khan, Rehman and Yusuf Pathan raised the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday; reports differ on party labels, one calling them NCPI MPs and another noting Khan's 2024 TMC ticket.
- Who
- Murshidabad MPs Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rehman, meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari; MP Yusuf Pathan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were involved in an earlier Delhi meeting
- What
- A meeting to protest the removal of loudspeakers and azaan microphones from mosques and to seek faster SIR tribunal hearings for voters excluded from electoral rolls
- Where
- Nabanna, the state secretariat in Kolkata; earlier meetings were held in Delhi
- When
- Saturday, August 8, a day after a breakfast hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and two days after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi
- Why
- The MPs allege Muslims are being targeted in Bengal over the removals, and say delays in tribunal decisions are causing difficulties for genuine voters in passport verification, land registration and access to welfare schemes
Murshidabad MPs and Muslim community
Court-ordered enforcement
Mosque loudspeaker removal
Murshidabad MPs and Muslim community
Removing loudspeakers and azaan microphones from mosques is 'extremely unfortunate' and unprecedented since Independence, and amounts to targeting Muslims in Bengal; the removals should stop so Muslims can offer prayers.
Court-ordered enforcement
The removals follow court directions to curb noise pollution, which the MPs acknowledge 'must certainly be followed'; the CM said microphones were also removed from nearly 1,200 temples, indicating enforcement across communities.
State police conduct
Murshidabad MPs and Muslim community
Police acted 'overenthusiastically,' forcing mosque authorities to remove microphones without giving time and, Khan alleged, in some cases without any government directive.
Court-ordered enforcement
Police action stems from enforcing court-ordered removals; the articles report no response from police to the allegations.
Key facts
- Event
- MPs meet Bengal CM over mosque loudspeaker removal
- Date
- Saturday, August 8
- Venue
- Nabanna, Kolkata state secretariat
- Attendees
- MPs Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rehman with CM Suvendu Adhikari
- Key demand
- Stop removal of loudspeakers and azaan microphones from mosques
- Microphones removed
- Around 3,800, including nearly 1,200 from temples (per CM)
- Excluded voters
- About 27 lakh from electoral rolls; nearly 7 lakh applied for tribunal hearings
- Deadline sought
- Complete SIR tribunal hearings by December 31
Quotes
NCPI MP from Murshidabad
NCPI MP from Murshidabad
“People of the state didn’t vote for us to play Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politics. Our concern is to work for people as they have voted for us. We are visiting those who hold constitutional positions to voice our concerns and demand the work that needs to be done. We also spoke of river erosion. The CM told us that 3,800 loudspeakers have been removed from mosques and 1,200 from temples. We also requested the CM that Muslims should not be targeted.”
freepressjournal.in
“Names of five lakh voters from Murishidabad are under adjudication. This matter should get resolved and I being the MP I will lend all support to the people there. We also spoke over developmental works in Murshidabad.”
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Sources
Murshidabad NCPI MPs Meet Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari After PM Modi Breakfast, Raise SIR Cases And Loudspeaker Issue
NCPI MPs ask WB CM to halt removal of mosque loudspeakers; seek relief for voters excluded in SIR
2 Murshidabad MPs Meet Suvendu Over Loudspeaker Removal, Allege ‘Muslims Targeted’
2 Mursidabad MPs meet Suvendu over loudspeaker removal from mosques, allege ‘Muslims being targeted’
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