Jamiat-e-Ulema Holds Protest in Kolkata Over Voter List Revisions, Mosque Loudspeaker Restrictions

Jamiat-e-Ulema Holds Protest in Kolkata Over Voter List Revisions, Mosque Loudspeaker Restrictions
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The West Bengal unit of Jamiat-e-Ulema organized a protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday, objecting to what it described as the alleged large-scale deletion of voters’ names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the removal of loudspeakers from mosques across the state.

The demonstration was held after the Calcutta High Court granted permission for the procession, following an earlier refusal by Kolkata Police.

Addressing the gathering, Chowdhury criticized the removal of mosque loudspeakers and accused the RSS of politicizing the issue. He questioned the government’s actions, saying the controversy was being used for political purposes.

The organization had initially requested permission on August 3 for around 2,000 people to march from Rajabazar to Esplanade on August 11. Police rejected the request, citing concerns over traffic disruption and the route passing through busy commercial areas. The High Court later criticized the timing of the police response and said authorities could not introduce additional reasons for restricting the protest that were not included in the original decision.

Meanwhile, several mosques across West Bengal reportedly removed loudspeakers used for the call to prayer (azan) following verbal instructions from local police authorities. Official records indicate that the state has around 62,000 mosques, although community estimates suggest the actual number may be higher.

The developments have sparked debate over religious practices, public order regulations, and the balance between freedom of expression and administrative restrictions in West Bengal.