By Imran Nasir

ISLAMABAD (TSAT) - Pakistan strongly condemned the Indian government action to ban Azaan (prayer for call) in mosques in Karnatka state of India.

In a statement, Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that Islamabad condemns in the strongest possible terms the highly deplorable incidents involving playing of Hanuman Chalisa and other Hindu devotional songs on loudspeakers as a counter to the Muslims’ call to prayer (Azaan) at various mosques in Indian state of Karnataka.

"The disturbing incidents occurred only a day after Sri Ram Sena Chief made the despicable call for “drowning” the Azaan through the provocative playing of Hanuman Chalisa and other Hindu religious hymns. It is condemnable that a reprehensible so-called “Azan se Azaadi’ campaign has been launched by Hindu fanatic groups in Karnataka which lays bare the new level of religious radicalism in the BJP-ruled India," said the Foreign Ministry.

"It is also noted with deep regret that loudspeakers are being removed from mosques across various states in India under the pretext of ensuring ‘communal harmony’. The ‘othering’ of Muslims in India and exclusionary policies aimed at denying their fundamental right to profess and practice their religion, only expose the deep-seated anti-Muslim prejudices in the Indian state and society," it's added.

Islamabad called upon the New Delhi to investigate the incidents of widespread violence against minorities, particularly Muslims, and their places of worship and take measures to stop such incidents from recurring in the future. The Government of India must ensure the safety, security and well-being of minorities.

Pakistan also called on the international community to take note of the aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India, and play its due role in ensuring the religious freedom and safety of the beleaguered Muslim community residing in India.

Under the anti-Muslim policies of the Hindu nationalist BJP government, the western Maharashtra state banned morning Azaan (call to prayer) on the loudspeakers.

On Saturday, Mumbai police arrested two Muslim religious leaders in connection with violating the government order to ban Azaan in loudspeakers for the morning prayer, the Hindustan Times reported. 

The state government also asked the Muslims to turn down the volumes of loudspeakers after a Hindu nationalist politician Raj Thackeray threatened to hold protests outside the mosques if Muslims do not keep their worship within the allowed limit. 

According to Reuters, over 900 mosques in the state have turned the volume down on calls to prayer following Thackeray warning.