Loudspeaker row reaches Karnataka, Sri Rama Sene activists perform 'suprabhata’ to counter 'azaan', police on alert

Mandya: Amid the ongoing loudspeaker row in Maharashtra, hundreds of Sri Rama Sene workers on Monday performed 'Suprabhata' aarti to counter ''azaan'' on loudspeakers atop mosques in Karnataka, reported ANI.

Karnataka | Sri Ram Sena workers performed 'Suprabhat Aarti' at around 5am on loudspeakers at Diddi Hanuman Temple, Old Hubli.

Earlier in the week, Sri Ram Sena announced to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. pic.twitter.com/RtC8hWtHoY — ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2022

This comes a day after Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik warned the Karnataka government that Hanuman Chalisa or Suprabhata or Omkara or devotional songs will be played at over 1,000 temples across the state at 5 AM from Monday (May 9, 2022). Sene has even accused the Karnataka government of having failed to take action against loudspeakers installed at mosques.

The Sri Rama Sene chief has asked Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra to show the "guts" shown by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, by taking action against unauthorised loudspeakers from religious places and setting the volume of others within permissible limits.

"Across Karnataka, we have contacted more than 1,000 temples. Temple priests, Dharmadarshis and management committees have agreed to play (Hanuman Chalisa, Suprabhata, Omkara or devotional songs) at 5 AM from Monday. There is a good response," Muthalik said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, there is anger against the government for not taking action against those violating Court orders regarding the use of loudspeakers. Alleging some Muslims of being adamant on the issue, he further said, "we will begin our protest against it from Monday."

Sri Rama Sene had earlier warned that it will counter morning Azaan with Hanuman Chalisa or Suprabhat or Omkara and devotional songs from 5 AM on May 9, if the government does not take action against loudspeakers installed at mosques.

Accusing the government of trying to scuttle Sri Rama Sene's protest by threatening temple committees using the police, Muthalik warned the administration, stating that their "dadagiri" will not have any impact.

"Show your dadagiri against Muslim's mics or loudspeakers and not against us. Keep in mind that you (BJP) are in power because of Hindu votes...We will do it peacefully and won't create any disturbance," he said, adding that, temple management committee will do it with the support of Sri Rama Sene workers.

He repeatedly pointed at the action taken by the Uttar Pradesh government against the use of loudspeakers there at religious places. Nearly 54,000 unauthorised loudspeakers were removed from religious places and the volume of over 60,000 was set to permissible limits across Uttar Pradesh, as part of state-wide drive undertaken by the government there.

Noting that as the first phase of Sri Rama Sene's drive Hanuman Chalisa or Suprabhata or devotional songs will be played at temples at the morning 5 AM, Muthalik said, "remaining four times Azaan that Muslims perform, for that we will take up, at later stages."

"Why we are doing early morning first because they cannot use mics or speakers between 10 pm to 6 am according to Court, but they use it at 5 AM. So we too will violate and thereby warn the government...Our fight is not against Azaan in mosques or offering prayers, but against using loudspeakers," he said.

Responding to a question, he said, in case the police try to stop Sri Rama Sene workers, it may lead to confrontation, "our Karyakartas will oppose it," he added.