A senior member of a minority council has issued a fatwa against singer Sonu Nigam for tweeting negatively about the azaan.
According to a DNA report, Syed Sha Atef Ali Al Quaderi, vice-president of the West Bengal Minority United Council said, “If anyone can shave his hair, put a garland of old torn shoes around his neck and tour him around the country I personally announce an award of Rs 10 lakh for that person.”
Quaderi also called Sonu Nigam “anti-national” and said no one had the right to hurt the sentiments of another religion. “I would have reacted the same way if one had talked ill about the sound of bells coming from a temple as well. If we all become so intolerant about each other’s religions, we will soon have a bunch of atheists in our country. People like Nigam should be driven out of the country,” he said.
The United Council is planning a rally against Nigam in Kolkata. As per Quaderi, the rally is supposed to send a message to not only Nigam, but also the RSS, who had recently held a meeting to insult the prophet. Quaderi further said, “The rally will be attended by people across all faiths.”
Meanwhile, Nigam took to Twitter to take a pot-shot at the fatwa.
Today at 2pm Aalim will come to my place, and shave my head. Keep your 10 lakhs ready Maulavi. https://t.co/5jyCmkt3pm
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 19, 2017
And Press is welcome to participate at 2pm.
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 19, 2017
Sonu Nigam had earlier complained on Twitter that he his sleep was disturbed by the loud speakers from a nearby mosque. Since then, he has received flak from social media for his comments. He later issued another tweet to clarify that he had only been speaking against loudspeakers.
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
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 16, 2017
And by the way Mohammed did not have electricity when he made Islam.. Why do I have to have this cacophony after Edison?
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 17, 2017
I don't believe in any temple or gurudwara using electricity To wake up people who don't follow the religion . Why then..? Honest? True?
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 17, 2017
Dear everyone. Your stand exposes your own IQ. I stand by my statement that loudspeakers should not be allowed in Mosques & Temples. Period
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 18, 2017
And dear Everyone, for those who are tainting my Tweets anti Muslim, tell me 1 place where I have said anything related, & I'll apologize.
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 18, 2017
Picture Courtesy: Cultural India
