Ranchi, March 11 The Jharkhand Assembly witnessed a heated debate on Wednesday between BJP MLAs from the opposition and the ruling party over the ban on DJ music during the Ram Navami procession.
DJ music refers to trucks or tractors equipped with high-power amplifiers, mixers, and massive speaker setups that accompany various processions and produce loud sound.
The playing of DJ music during Ram Navami processions was prohibited following a high court order, according to an official, due to health issues faced by people because of high-decibel noise.
As soon as the proceedings began, BJP MLA Pradeep Prasad raised slogans on the issue, accusing the government of interfering with religious traditions by banning DJ music during Ram Navami processions.
Before arriving at the assembly, Prasad held a protest outside, sitting with a placard and accusing the state government of discriminating against Hindu festivals.
Speaking to reporters, he claimed that the Ram Navami procession in Hazaribagh is famous not only in Jharkhand but throughout the country, and therefore, it should be given state-level status and DJ music should be allowed in processions.
Several BJP lawmakers were seen shouting slogans near the well of the house against the government, accusing it of appeasing minorities and alleging that Hindutva is in danger under the Hemant Soren-led government.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Congress leader Radha Krisha Kishore countered the BJP MLAs' protest by claiming that "Hindutva is not under threat in the country, but in fact Hindustan is under threat".
Alleging that the BJP-led central government has bowed down before the US, Kishore claimed that an Iranian warship, which had been invited for a maritime exercise by India, had been destroyed by America inside Indian territory, with not a single word being uttered by the Centre on the issue.
At this, BJP MLAs again rushed into the well of the house and demanded that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister's alleged "anti-India" statements be expunged. The Speaker did not respond to the demand.
BJP MLA Naveen Jaiswal claimed that the Iranian ship was not sunk within Indian territory, but it was in Sri Lankan territory.
Kishore said that the issue of banning DJ music during Ram Navami processions was being misconstrued. He clarified that the issue was not about any one community.
Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner Shashi Prakash Singh said, “We have prohibited playing of DJ music during Ram Navami processions in accordance with the high court order. It has been done keeping in view the health issues faced by people due to DJ music played at high decibel levels.”
The deputy commissioner said that the order is applicable across the state.