Row over Azaan: AIMIM to protest on roads, demanding removal of Allahabad University VC

PRAYAGRAJ, March 18 (HS): Divisional Spokesperson of AIMIM, Afsar Mahmood has strongly condemned the Allahabad University vice chancellor Prof. Sangita Srivastava for claiming that her sleep was being disturbed by the ‘azaan’. During a protest organised by the party on Thursday, he said that Srivastava should know the ‘Ganga-Jamuni’ culture of the region that allows peaceful co-existence of various religions.

Srivastava’s letter has come under criticism from several sections, for allegedly singling out the Muslim place of worship and focusing on personal matters at the cost of issues related to the campus. “People, since ages, have respected each other’s religions. The sounds of ‘azaan’ often mingle with the sounds of bhajans from temples and no one has ever said that their sleep is disturbed because of this. There is already a high court order in this regard which is being complied with by all mosques,” he said. Afsar Mahmood said the V-C ought to have also complained about the morning aarti and kirtan performed by Hindus. He asked the V-C to take back her complaint, saying “such complaints by someone with such a high post is not good”. “The morning azaan,” he added, hardly takes two to three minutes.

He further appealed to the people to ignore such issues and not to mislead others on such matters. The Allahabad University vice chancellor had written a letter to the district magistrate, claiming that her sleep was being disturbed because of ‘azaan’ in a nearby mosque. She claimed that due to disruptions in her sleep, she suffered headaches which affected her work hours. “Don’t disturb communal harmony by making such comments,” AIMIM legal chief, Arif Iqbal opined and retorted, “Do Muslims file complaints against ‘arti’ or ‘bhajan’ on loudspeakers? We should support each other.” He sought action against Allahabad University vice chancellor for vitiating peaceful atmosphere and sought her removal or else the party will be left with no other option but to agitate on roads. Congress party and other organizations also echoed similar reactions.