Bengaluru: Religious Scholars in Karnataka have issued instructions to mosque committees across the state to not use loudspeakers for morning prayers and azaan (Fajar) in accordance with the latest state government order.
The instructions were issued after several top Muslim scholars held a meeting with Muslim public representatives including MLAs and MLCs and discussed the matter. The meeting was chaired by Ameer-e-Shariat Moulana Sageer Ahmed Rashadi.
Speaking to media reporters after the meeting, Moulana Sageer Ahmed Rashadi urged the mosque committees to follow guidelines issued by the government and Supreme Court adding that they should also secure written permission as prescribed in government order for using loudspeakers during the daytime.
“We give azaan five times a day. So it’s about leaving out loudspeakers only for the morning prayers. We should follow what the government order and SC say. It is not only restricted for the Muslims, it is applicable for all the people and all activities of other faiths as well.” He said.
Wakf Board Chairman Moulana Shafi Saadi, Moulana Mansoor Imran Rashadi, Mufti Iftikhar Ahmed Qasmi, MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan, NA Haris, Rizwan Arshad, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly UT Khader, MLC Naseer Ahmed, and others were present during the meeting.
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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has invited farmers, scientists and organisations to come up with innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft in the state.
The state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures Mysuru Sandal Soap has also planned sandalwood cultivation, state Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said on Thursday.
"In a bid to promote sandalwood cultivation, the KSDL has planned a major initiative. As part of it, farmers, scientists, and organisations possessing information on advanced equipment or innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft have been invited to approach KSDL and share the details," Patil said in a statement.
Those interested in this initiative will be given an opportunity to demonstrate such technologies before the organisation, the minister said, adding if the proposed solutions are found suitable and effective, steps will be taken for consideration and implementation.
Patil stated that the cost involved in deploying technologies aimed at preventing sandalwood theft would be borne by KSDL.
Further, with a view to encouraging sandalwood cultivation, four farmers who have supplied the highest quantity of sandalwood to KSDL will be honoured with awards on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar on June 4, he said.
On the same occasion, police personnel and forest officials who have made notable progress in apprehending sandalwood thieves and registering cases, along with members of the public who have provided credible information leading to such action, will also be recognised and rewarded, the minister added.
Patil observed that farmers cultivating sandalwood trees on their lands have been facing increasing threats due to theft in recent years. Illegal felling and theft of sandalwood trees have continued for decades.
Although stringent laws are in place to curb such activities, the number of cases resulting in convictions remains very low, he noted.
"In this context, it becomes the responsibility of the organisation to extend both legal and technical support to farmers and encourage them to take up sandalwood cultivation on a larger scale," he said.
According to him, over the past three years, KSDL has procured 174.5 metric tonne of sandalwood directly from farmers across the state and transferred Rs 6.08 crore to their respective accounts.
