Controversy arises as IAS officer challenges loudspeaker use in temples over noise pollution
Bhopal: A woman IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh has sparked controversy by suggesting that the state government's order regulating loudspeakers at places of worship may be executed with religious bias. Shailbala Martin, a 2009-batch IAS officer, raised concerns about noise pollution from temple loudspeakers, questioning why they are allowed to disturb residents late into the night.
In a post on X, she expressed support for Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's initiative to regulate loudspeakers in temples, mosques, and churches, emphasizing that such regulation should be applied uniformly across all religious venues to alleviate noise issues for everyone.
However, her comments have drawn criticism from the Hindu organization Samskrit Bachao Manch, which accused Martin of "communalizing" the issue and claimed her statements offended Hindu sentiments. The group’s leader, Chandrasekhar Tiwari, warned that her remarks could disrupt communal harmony and advised her to avoid such sensitive topics in the future.
In a political twist, the Congress party has accused the ruling BJP government of religious discrimination in enforcing the loudspeaker regulation. Congress spokesman Abbas Hafeez claimed that the implementation of the order reflects a bias based on religious considerations. He urged the state government to acknowledge the issue raised by the IAS officer and rectify any discriminatory practices.
BJP spokesman Milan Bhargav, however, refuted allegations of bias, asserting that the government is adhering to the rule of law and acting constitutionally. He stated that the government has set a precedent by implementing the order without discrimination.
This is not the first time Martin has faced backlash for her statements. Previously, she received heavy criticism on social media when she addressed the plight of women in Manipur while responding to posts criticizing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over an incident in Parliament.
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Telangana Task Force arrests Motivational Speaker Munawar Zama in idol vandalism case
In a significant development, the Telangana Task Force (T TASKF) arrested popular motivational speaker Munawar Zama and two hotel owners from Maharashtra today. The arrests are connected to the vandalism of an idol at a temple near the Secunderabad passport office, an incident that occurred during the night of October 13-14.
The primary suspect in the case, Salman Thakur from Mumbai, was staying at one of the Metropolis Hotels in Maharashtra during a personality development program. The police had previously arrested Thakur in connection with the incident, noting that many hotel rooms were rented by the organizers of the English Development program.
Authorities are expanding their investigation into the matter, with Munawar Zama and the hotel owners identified as key figures in the probe. While there is currently no evidence to support claims that Munawar delivered a hate speech, it is alleged that he provoked students, which led to the vandalism of the idol. Following this, the police took action, resulting in the arrest of the hotel owners and Munawar today.
