From Monday Hanuman Chalisa near temples only: Muthalik on Azaan row

Mandya, May 8 (UNI) In a climbdown from their earlier threat, the Hindu outfits led by Sri Ram Sene on Sunday said that Hanuman Chalisa and bhajans will be rendered on loudspeakers near the temples, not in front of the mosques beginning Monday.
However, in the backdrop of some BJP leaders backing Sri Ram Sene’s campaign, Muthalik has warned of fierce fight in coming days if the state government fails to act like Uttar Pradesh government and comply with the Supreme Court’s order on playing azaan on loudspeakers.
“The state government has given notice, but no one has complied with the Supreme Court order. Beginning tomorrow, Hanuman Chalisa and Omkara Nada will be played on loudspeakers from 1000 temples across the state at 5 am,” Sri Ram Sene President Pramod Muthalik told reporters here.
“This is warning to the government and the Muslim community. We have requested the temple committees to cooperate. If the government fails to take action like the UP government and comply with the SC order, there will be a fierce fight in the coming days,” he warned.
Earlier, Muthalik had warned the state government to resolve the issue soon, if not Hindu organisations would play bhajan at temples every day in front of the mosques.
When Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath can pull down thousands of loudspeakers from the mosques, why cannot Basavaraj Bommai’s government do it in Karnataka, he questioned.
“Yogi Adityanath has seized over sixty thousand mikes. Why don’t we have that courage? Why are you (Basavaraj Bommai and Araga Jnanendra) afraid? You have to comply with the Supreme Court order. Our fight is against both the government and the Muslims.”
On Saturday, Yogi Adityanath said over one lakh loudspeakers were brought down in Uttar Pradesh and directed the officials to ensure that they are not reinstalled.
Several Hindu organisations have been demanding the government to ban loudspeaker usage from mosques and compliance of Supreme Court order on the matter.
The apex court has prohibited usage of loudspeakers from 10 pm to 6 am, Muthalik said, adding that Sri Ram Sene had submitted a petition to the district authorities, but to no avail.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal backed Muthalik’s campaign and said that the Supreme Court order must be followed and it is the government’s duty to comply with it.
The state government should take steps taken by the UP government and Sri Ram Sene chief has not said anything unconstitutional, he said. BJP leader and Mysuru MP Pratap Simha also lent support to Muthalik.
Last month, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said the government will implement the orders of the courts on regulating the use of loudspeakers in mosques and everyone should abide by the law.
Bommai said the police have already issued a circular to this effect and meetings will be held at the police station level.