Veteran scriptwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar is known to speak his mind and he now takes a stand on the matter of using loudspeakers in mosques as well. Akhtar has tweeted, “This is to put on record that I totally agree with all those including Sonu Nigam who want that loudspeakers should not be used by the mosques and for that matter by any place of worship in residential areas.’’

Yesterday it was reported that the Maharashtra State Intelligence Department (SID) had cautioned the Mumbai Police about a possible threat to the life of Bollywood singer-actor Sonu Nigam. The police were informed that Nigam could be a target in a public place or at an event or promotional function, and were advised to act further in the matter.

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No details were shared by the police about what level of security had been provided to Nigam or for what duration. Sonu himself had merely commented, “I am as ambiguous (about the threat) as you are.”

Last year, the singer had raised hackles when he had tweeted against the use of loudspeakers for Azaan. “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 had written. He tweeted that there was no electricity when Mohammed made Islam. He had also added that he was against any person who doesn’t follow a religion being ‘woken up by temple and gurudwara’s electricity use’ which he called “gundagardi”, or hooliganism.

https://twitter.com/Javedakhtarjadu/status/961178605593047041

However, the controversy continued as a West Bengal Muslim cleric announced a Rs.10 lakh reward for anyone who would shave Nigam's head. Reacting to this, Nigam voluntarily tonsured his head after apologizing to Muslims for hurting their religious sentiments. Following this, the singer had also quit Twitter on May 24, 2017. He had said, “I quit Twitter today in defiance of this one-sided sham. Every logical, sensible patriot and humanist should. I am sorry I don't belong to a place which spews so much venom with such relish! A place that taints me anti-Muslim in some losers' minds.”

Akhtar’s public show of support must count in times like this.