Hindu hardliners want India ban on Muslim call to prayer

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI

In India, like many other countries across the world, loudspeakers are routinely used for the adhan -- the Muslim call to prayer. Their use for the early morning dawn prayers however, has recently been facing opposition from right-wing Hindu organizations, who call it a disturbance. That opposition was voiced in demonstrations held by the Hindu organization Rahstriya Hindu Andolan, in southern Indian city Mangalore, calling for a nationwide ban. The demand has been repeated by Hindu Janjagriti Samiti, in western state Maharastra.

“We want the government to take immediate action on this issue. During Hindu festivals, like Ganpati and Navratri, we were not allowed to run loudspeaker after 10 p.m., but Muslims can use it in their daily morning prayers," said Hindu Janjagruti Samiti spokesperson Ajay Sambhhavat. "Don’t you think it is discrimination against Hindus? We would continue with our demand unless and until it is accepted.”

Since the original calls, there has gradually been an increase in the number of, often small, groups making calls for a ban and insisting that they will continue their protests. That has become a cause of worry for many Muslims. 

“We know this demand has been made by a handful of people. But other Hindu hardliner organizations in other parts of the country will take the cue and make similar demand. We believe in practicing our religion peacefully. Just as we don’t interfere in other people’s religion, so we don’t want others to do it,” said Mufti Abdul Hakim, a cleric based in northern state Uttar Pradesh.

There are suggestions that the groups have been emboldened by the election of Narendra Modi, a self-styled Hindu nationalist, as India's new prime minister. The record of his Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies on Muslims rights is chequered, and has led to concerns about the effect their victory would have on inter-communal relations. 

Arif Aziz, a journalist based in central India, says that in reality Modi will not pay much attention to these protests. “These organizations think that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would support them but it is unlikely. Modi is avoiding controversial issues and focusing his energies on other important jobs. At present the development is on the top of his agenda.”

Despite the Muslim concern and the lack of government attention to the issue, many groups say they will continue with their protests and some have started petitions for the banning of the morning adhan. There are also signs the campaign may be gaining traction. Dhananjay Parihar, a politician for one of India's largest Hindu nationalist groups Shiv Sena, suggested the government should pay attention to the demands.

Vijyalaxmi, an activist for Hindu group Sanatana Dharma, said “We know that Indian constitution grants religious freedom to every citizen of this country. But we must see that Muslims don’t misuse this freedom to disturb others."

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