Murshidabad MPs Meet Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari Over Removal of Mosque Loudspeakers
Two Members of Parliament from West Bengal's Murshidabad district called on Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday and raised concerns over the removal of loudspeakers from mosques in the state. The meeting took place at Nabanna, the state secretariat, where the legislators also pressed for faster resolution of pending electoral roll disputes.
Abu Taher Khan, who represents the Murshidabad constituency on a Trinamool Congress ticket, told reporters after the meeting that the action against mosque loudspeakers was "extremely unfortunate." He claimed that Muslims were being targeted in Bengal and asked for the removal process to be halted. "We should be allowed to offer our prayers," he said.
Khan was accompanied by Khalilur Rehman, the MP from Jangipur. Both are from the ruling party in the state, a factor that made their meeting with the BJP's legislative party leader notable. Adhikari is not a minister in the state government; he serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and is a former state minister.
"The court's directions must certainly be followed," Khan said, "but removing loudspeakers from mosques is not right. We have requested the government to look into the matter." He further alleged that the state police have been "overenthusiastic" in implementing the removal drive, though he acknowledged that the original initiative stems from judicial orders regarding noise levels.
The two lawmakers also sought Adhikari's intervention in a separate administrative issue involving a large backlog of cases at tribunals that handle appeals by voters whose names were deleted from electoral rolls in Murshidabad, a Muslim-majority district. Khan explained that many people whose names were removed face difficulties in passport verification, land registration, and accessing government welfare schemes while their appeals remain pending.
"A large number of genuine voters whose names have been deleted from the electoral rolls are awaiting tribunal decisions. The delay is causing difficulties," Khan said. He requested the state government to fast-track these hearings and complete them by December 31.
The meeting comes two days after the same MPs, along with a third legislator from Murshidabad, Yusuf Pathan, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and raised the loudspeaker issue. Political observers note that the TMC representatives' outreach to opposition leaders suggests cross-party concerns over the matter, even as the BJP-led central government has supported strict enforcement of noise pollution rules.
Adhikari, who has been a vocal advocate for removing loudspeakers from religious places across the state, reportedly assured the MPs of a fair hearing. However, no official statement was issued from his office after the meeting.
The situation in West Bengal is being watched closely, as several states have witnessed similar debates over the use of loudspeakers in places of worship. Authorities in West Bengal have cited court orders that set permissible noise levels, while community leaders have argued for cultural and religious sensitivity.
