Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firebrand MLA Balmukund Acharya has once again come into the center of controversy regarding his statements. This time he has raised questions on the announcements and Azaan made through loudspeakers from mosques during the holy month of Ramzan.
The MLA argues that due to this the common people have to face huge problems. After his statement, the politics of the state has heated up. Opposition parties including Congress, AIMIM and Muslim religious leaders have retaliated sharply, terming it as politics of hatred and polarization.
‘The MLA himself is a loudspeaker’
Congress MLA Ghanshyam Mehar strongly condemned the statement of Balmukund Acharya and took a sharp jibe at him. He said, “The BJP MLA himself is a loudspeaker, who always keeps speaking hateful words. Why would he have any problem with others, he himself has become a cause of trouble for the people from the streets to the Assembly House.” Mehar alleged that Acharya is speaking the language of BJP, hence no action can be expected from the party against him. He also clarified that there are many other MLAs in the House, who always do their work and give statements with full responsibility.
‘The MLA’s language is against the Constitution’
AIMIM state spokesperson Mohammad Arif has raised questions on the intentions of the MLA. Arif said that Balmukund Acharya deliberately makes such controversial statements just to remain in the media headlines. He said, “The MLAs are working to divide the society, whereas the Constitution of the country gives the right to religious freedom to all citizens. Acharya is speaking against the Constitution and his such hateful statements should be curbed with immediate effect.”
‘CM Bhajanlal Sharma should instruct to remain silent’
Muslim religious leaders have also registered their strong objection in this matter. Calling the statement a mere ‘publicity stunt’, Islamic religious leader Hafiz Manzoor Ahmed said that Balmukund Acharya is saying this only to get publicity and no one takes him seriously in the society. Seeking intervention from the Chief Minister of the state, he said, “We have full hope that CM Bhajanlal Sharma, with his clean and secular image, will not pay attention to their words and will give them strict instructions to remain silent.” Hafiz Manzoor also said that there are many good MLAs in BJP who never talk like this that poisons the society.