Bhopal: IAS officer Shailbala Martin, an additional secretary in the Madhya Pradesh government, has come under heavy criticism from right-wing groups and accounts on social media platform X after she posted a question — whether the noise pollution from temple loudspeakers did not disturb anyone. Hindutva group Sanskriti Bachao Manch has also threatened to launch protests against her.
IAS officer Shailbala Martin’s question was in response to an X post by a journalist on how the loudspeaker restriction in Madhya Pradesh has been leading to religious rivalry and that politics is driving it.
Hours after taking over as the chief minister in December 2023, Mohan Yadav issued orders to restrict the usage of disc jockeys (DJs)/loudspeakers at religious gatherings and public places. Flying squads were formed, and several mosques were made to remove their public announcement systems or lower their volumes.
The loopholes in implementing the restrictions came to the fore last week when a 13-year-old boy dancing to the DJ sound during a Durga idol immersion collapsed and subsequently died. As the police continued to investigate the cause of his death, a debate over loudspeakers and ensuing noise pollution started on social media.
On X, a journalist, Dr Mukesh Kumar, wrote, “The argument is that since the sound of Azan from loudspeakers of mosques disturbs people, why should there be a problem with playing DJs in front of mosques? But I have a question for DJs: If mosques remove loudspeakers, will the DJ and dirty sloganeering stop? It will not happen. Then, all this will go on under some other pretext because there is politics behind this religious rivalry; it will not let it stop.” Yet, he urged the Muslim community to remove the loudspeakers and give the DJs a chance.
Responding, Shaibala Martin, an additional secretary in the General Administration Department (GAD), said, “And the temple loudspeakers, which spread noise pollution through speakers far and wide in many streets, which keep playing till midnight, do not disturb anyone?”
Soon afterwards, several right-wing accounts accused Martin of targeting the Hindu religion. The convener of Sanskriti Bachao Manch — Chandrashekhar Tiwari — threatened to launch protests against Martin. Sanskriti Bachao Manch is known for forming vigilante groups that harass couples on Valentine’s Day.
Martin is a 2009-batch IAS officer, promoted from the state services. She has served in several capacities in the tribal department and health and transport. After her post attracted sharp criticism from some quarters, Martin took to social media again.
“As a citizen, my concern was and will remain regarding the deadly noise of loudspeakers and DJs. My views are not on religious or political basis from any angle. Anyway, the honourable chief minister of our state has given clear instructions in this regard,” the IAS officer said.
“Even now, if the orders and instructions of the honourable chief minister are followed properly, it will be in the interest of the entire society. It is beyond comprehension why my four lines were made a subject of controversy,” the IAS officer added.
While many criticised Martin, others supported her for highlighting the need to reduce noise pollution. The Congress supported her views.
Abbas Hafeez, the vice president of the party’s media cell, said, “The problem is that the actions being taken under the BJP governments are for the sake of politics. If there is an issue with loudspeakers, the action can not be based on considerations of religious identity. This has compelled an IAS officer of the government to speak against it. This proves the religious politics played by the BJP government.”
The state government has not issued any statements on the controversy. ThePrint has reached out to officials, but they refused to comment in the matter.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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