Dehradun: The issue of Azaan being broadcast over loudspeakers has once again become a point of contention, with right-wing Hindu groups attempting to disrupt communal harmony. In the latest incident, members of the Hindu Raksha Dal protested against Azaan in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, prompting swift police intervention to prevent an escalation of tensions.
According to reports, the Hindu Raksha Dal objected to the sound of Azaan from a local mosque and attempted to stage a protest by reciting Hanuman Chalisa outside the mosque, demanding a reduction in the loudspeaker volume. However, before they could reach the mosque, the police set up barricades, leading to a commotion on Dispensary Road. Prevented from advancing, the activists resorted to chanting Hanuman Chalisa in the streets.
The group had also planned a demonstration outside Jama Masjid in Dhamawala on Tuesday, but police intervened in time, stopping them midway. Frustrated by the blockade, the protesters created a ruckus before dispersing following police assurances of action.
Lalit Sharma, the state president of Hindu Raksha Dal, criticized the police for blocking their protest and reiterated demands to lower the volume of mosque loudspeakers, alleging that they exceed permissible limits.
This incident is part of a recurring pattern in Uttarakhand, where extremist Hindu groups have targeted Muslim places of worship, raising concerns over communal harmony and the safety of minority communities. Critics argue that such groups selectively invoke noise pollution concerns while disregarding similar violations by religious processions and gatherings from their own community.
The growing attempts to incite tensions under the pretext of noise complaints highlight the urgent need for authorities to ensure constitutional rights of religious freedom and equality for all citizens.
