Karnataka: BJP MLA Eshwarappa asks if Allah ‘is deaf’, triggers row

• The statement is made to vitiate communal atmosphere in the state going to polls soon
• SC banned the use of loudspeakers and music systems in public places between 10 pm and 6 am (except in cases of public emergencies) in July 2005
• There has been an intense debate over ‘azaan’ with a section arguing that the use of loudspeakers for prayers call may be disturbing to people of other religions

Ahead of assembly elections, BJP leader and former Karnataka minister K S Eshwarappa made a controversial remark on azaan and asked if “Allah is deaf” that loudspeakers are required to call him.

“This (azaan) is a headache for me. Wherever I go I have the same problem. Does Allah hear prayers only if one scream on a microphone? Is Allah deaf? I have no doubt there will be an end to this soon as there is a Supreme Court judgement. PM Modi has asked us to respect all religions, but I must ask can Allah hear only if you scream on a microphone? This issue must be resolved soon,” he said attracting cheers from party supporters at the rally.

Eshwarappa was forced to step down as minister in April last year following corruption charge. Santosh Patil, a contractor, named Eshwarappa in his suicide note accusing him of demanding 40 per cent commission to clear pending bills for works worth Rs 4 crore. However, a police investigation gave him a clean chit in the case.

The BJP leader’s remark may spark a fresh row in the ‘azaan’ debate that knocked on the High Court’s door last year. There has been an intense debate over ‘azaan’ with a section arguing that the use of loudspeakers for prayers call may be disturbing to people of other religions. Azaan is the Islamic call to prayers which is given five times at prescribed times of the day.

“We also pray at temples. We chant shlokas and the women sing bhajans… In the entire world, the only country protecting dharma is Bharat Mata. But if they have to scream loudly through the mic, then we have to say he (Allah) is deaf. There is no need (for azaan). So, I opine that this issue should be addressed at the earliest,” he said.

The latest statement is believed to have been made to vitiate communal atmosphere in the state for electoral benefits. Eshwarappa was addressing a public gathering when azaan was playing in the background coming from a mosque nearby. The former minister said: “There is a Supreme Court judge. Today or tomorrow, this (practice of calling azaan over mics) will definitely end.”

It is to be noted that some right-wing activists in Bengaluru last year had demanded the shutting down of loudspeakers. They also met commissioners and other police officers across the state. Following this, the Bengaluru police

Following this, Bengaluru Police issued notices to mosques asking them to use their loudspeakers within the permissible decibel levels. The notices were issued to 301 mosques, temples, churches, and other establishments to use their loudspeakers within the permissible decibel levels.

The row on azan erupted in other states also. In Maharashtra, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray demanded the removal of loudspeakers from mosques and warned of “putting loudspeakers in front of mosques and playing Hanuman Chalisa”.

Following calls for ban on use of loudspeakers for azan in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court in May last year ruled that delivering the azaan on loudspeakers is not a fundamental right. The court further said that although azaan is an integral part of Islam, it stated that delivering it through loudspeakers is not a part of the religion, according to the Indian Express. The court made this remark while dismissing a petition filed by one Irfan of Budaun, who sought permission to play Azaan using loudspeakers in the Noori Masjid.

In January this year, the Haridwar district administration fined seven mosques for causing noise pollution.

Notably, the Supreme Court banned the use of loudspeakers and music systems in public places between 10 pm and 6 am (except in cases of public emergencies) in July 2005.