Javed Akhtar has urged people to not use loudspeakers in mosques. On April 17, 2017, Sonu Nigam had described the loud sermons from the loudspeakers as hooliganism in a series of tweets.
Veteran Bollywood lyricist-scriptwriter Javed Akhtar has come out in support of playback singer Sonu Nigam, who was embroiled in a controversy for criticising the use of loudspeakers in the mosques last year.
Javed Akhtar has urged people to not use loudspeakers in mosques. He took t his Twitter account and wrote, ‘’This is to put on record that I totally agree with all those including Sonu Nigam who want that Loud speakers should not be used by the mosques and for that matter by any place of worship in residential areas. (sic).’’
On April 17, 2017, Sonu had described the loud sermons from the loudspeakers as hooliganism in a series of tweets. He had tweeted, “God bless everyone. I’m not a Muslim and I have to be woken up by the Azaan in the morning. When will this forced religiousness end in India (sic).’’
Though Sonu Nigam spoke about loudspeakers atop temples and gurudwaras too, his outburst was construed as being against ‘azaan’ and Islam. This was followed by a fatwa being issued against Nigam by Kolkata-based cleric, Syed Sha Atef Ali Al Quaderi, who asked him to shave off his head for his tweets.
Following this, the Kal Ho Naa Hosinger also quit Twitter on May 24, 2017 as his tweet against early morning azaan stirred a huge controversy. He faced flak from religious extremists for voicing his views on social media, besides a few who understood his expression about religion and patriotism.
He had said, “I quit Twitter today in defiance of this one-sided sham. Every logical, sensible patriot and humanist should. I am sorry I don’t belong to a place which spews so much venom with such Relish! A place that taints me anti-muslim in some losers’ minds.” He said he had no religion and follows his own religion choosing the best from everywhere. “Those who understand, know; those who don’t, my condolences. I don’t belong to a place where some Pseudo Intellectuals actually turn a Blind Eye to the unprecedented slap I gave to the Fatwa proclaimers on me. I am no Right Wing, No Left Wing. I respect everyone’s opinion but I guess here, you have to Belong Somewhere.”
“I hope I never need to return here to clarify, but I never say never! At this point, my pious life, needs to de-clutter. I don’t know what will be made out of these Threads of mine, and what new Controversy I’ll get in too, but this should be the last due to Twitter,’’ he had further wrote.
