UP govt defends ban on loud music in 'kanwariya' processions

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today defended his government's ban on use of loud music in 'kanwariya' processions and described as strange the opposition BJP's demand for disc jockeys (DJs) in religious occasion.
"It is strange that the party is demanding disco music for a religious occasion... Had they asked for some religious songs it would have been ok... We are ready for religious or devotional songs," the chief minister said at a function here.
The UP government put a ban use of live music and DJs during 'kawariya' processions across the state to "maintain peace and harmony".
The move was criticised by the BJP, which termed is as an "undemocratic" step and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take "appropriate action".

UP BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai had said that over 24 party MPs have opposed this step of the state government.
Using the occasion, Yadav said that world class music system to play devotional music will be installed at the ghats of the Saryu river in Ayodhya and at the Ganga ghats in Varanasi, the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Any work in Ayodhya is always a news in the country and the Samajwadi Party government would not spare anything to develop the religious place," he said.
Yadav also said that a new under-construction stadium will be inaugurated soon and some parts of the city would get underground electricity like Azamgarh and Mau districts.

The chief minister also announced free ultrasound facility to patients at all government hospitals from September 1 and inaugurated a new 100-bed hospital in Faizabad and 60 urban primary health centers at 'Malin Bastis' of the state.
Lauding the works done by the state Health ministry, Yadav said that mechanised cleaning system will soon be introduced in all the district hospitals and operation theatres.
The state's health minister Ahmed Hasan, in his address, warned government doctors against private practise saying in the next six months either the government doctors must leave private practice or they will find themselves in jail.

"The dadagiri of doctors will not be tolerated," he warned.