Public prayer curbs: Will cooperate but seek fairness, say religion reps

Kolkata: A day after CM Suvendu Adhikari held his first meeting with senior cops to outline the new govt's law-and-order priorities, religious leaders and community organisers across faiths responded supportively to the govt's new directives on loudspeakers and road usage during prayers and festivals, while stressing that the rules must be implemented fairly and uniformly.Till late on Tuesday evening, no formal notification had reached any place of worship or the offices of the organisers of various festivals, but the directives prompted guarded but supportive responses from representatives of different faiths and community organisations who said they will comply with directives and expressed hope that the implementation would be even-handed and free of discrimination."The Muslim community in Bengal has high expectations from the new govt and we welcome the steps being taken by the CM. We will continue to abide by rules and regulations. Our only request is that the rules be implemented uniformly and without bias. If anyone attempts to create disturbances, the administration must take strict action," said Abdul Aziz, secretary of Milli Ettehad Parishad.Days after the BJP assumed office in Bengal, the new govt on Monday issued a set of directives to senior cops that included ensuring loudspeaker sound from religious places does not travel beyond precincts and that prayer congregations do not block roads or inconvenience public, except on special occasions.Among those present at the meeting were DGP SN Gupta, ADG (law and order) Ajay Ranade and KP commissioner Ajay Nand. Adhikari reportedly emphasised that the law must be applied uniformly across communities and institutions. "We might hold prayers in multiple shifts so that everybody gets space inside the mosque. We have not received any instructions, though," said imam of a mosque in central Kolkata.Durga Puja committees, too, said they would follow directives of the govt. "Festivals will continue to be organised in accordance with all directives by the administration," said Saswata Basu, secretary of Forum for Durgotsab.A senior church leader said measures to regulate sound and traffic could help residents if enforced fairly. "The new rules are welcome if they help reduce noise pollution and improve traffic discipline during prayers and festivities. We also hope the rules are implemented without bias," said the priest.Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, secretary of the United Interfaith Foundation, said: "We welcome all rules and regulations. However, there should be one standard for everybody." "It is a welcome move. We will follow regulations as we have always done," said Jagdeep Singh, member of a Gurdwara on MG Road.Cops said that once they receive go-ahead from seniors, implementation would begin at local level through coordination between police stations and organisers. Nasser Ebrahim, trustee of Nakhoda Mosque, said they will follow norms whenever implemented. "As long as same rules apply to every festival and religious gathering, people will accept it," said Shyamal Dutta, a resident of central Kolkata.