Tripura Governor Tathagatha Roy on Tuesday defended the use of firecrackers to celebrate Diwali by comparing it to the sound of the Muslim call to prayer. “Every Diwali, fights start over noise pollution from crackers,” Roy said on Twitter. “A few days in a year. But no fight about Azaan over loudspeakers at 4.30 am!”
He argued that the Quran or Haadis do not prescribe the use of loudspeakers for the call to prayer. “The Muezzin [one who summons everyone to prayer] is supposed to shout Azaan from the minarets, which is why the minarets are there! Use of loudspeakers, thus is contrary to Islam!”
Roy’s comment come after the Supreme Court reinstated a ban on the sale of firecrackers during Diwali celebrations in Delhi and NCR, saying it wants to assess the difference in air quality in the highly polluted region.
In April, singer Sonu Nigam had drawn criticism for his remarks on mosques using loudspeakers for their morning call to prayers. “When will this forced religiousness end in India?” he had said, drawing immense outrage.
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