Sonu Nigam stokes row over Azaan

Mumbai: Singer Sonu Nigam on Monday took to Twitter complaining about noise pollution caused by Azaan (a call for daily prayers at stipulated times outside a mosque) near his house. He 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.” He even termed it as gundagardi.

Soon after his tweet, anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali shot off a letter to the various officers including the state environment secretary, stating that noise pollution is not restricted to one religious place but all religious places. “While I do not support Mr Nigam’s comments as related to noise pollution from one single religion only. I want the government to enforce rules as per the HC orders,” Ms Abdulali said. “Police does not take action, stating that it is a sensitive issue," she added.