Complaint Against Durga Puja Pandal in Bengal For Playing ‘Azaan’

Advocate Santanu Singha lodged the complaint after outrage on social media and asked the police to take action.

Image used for representational purpose. 

(Photo: PTI)

Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma

A police complaint has been filed against a 'secular' themed Puja in Kolkata's Beliaghata for allegedly played the azaan in their puja pandal on 6 October.

Advocate Santanu Singha lodged the complaint after outrage on social media and asked the Beliaghata police to take action. Naming 10 people including the club secretary of the puja pandal, Advocate Singha said a video of the pandal playing azaan was forwarded to him by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

‘Have Wounded Religious Feelings’

According to the complaint sent, the advocate accuses the organisers of disturbing the peace and tranquillity in the State of West Bengal by allowing azaan to be played.

“No Muslim will appreciate azaan being played every five minutes. This is completely political,” Singha told ANI.

“Tell me how playing azaan in a puja pandal will help promote communal harmony? I have filed this complaint as an individual. I'll be hurt if Gita is recited from a mosque, similarly, I am hurt that azaan is being played at a Durga puja pandal,” he said.

We Are Together, Not Alone: Theme of Pujo

On the other hand, the pandal organisers consider this matter to be unnecessarily politicised, clarifying that the theme of their puja pandal was ‘ we are together, not alone’.

“Some people have conveniently ignored the Hinduism- and Christian-related messages and are creating controversy over a message in Urdu. It is not true and completely fake that azaan is being played during Maa Durga Puja.”

Parimal Dey, Club Secretary of Beliaghata 33 pally

No FIR Registered

While no FIR has been lodged according to The Indian Express, the cyber cell is vigilant about posts related to the pandal being shared on social media.

(With Inputs from The Indian Express)