Andhra Pradesh: Police orders Hindus to perform bhajans indoors, citing Muslim discomfort during Namaz

A controversial police order from Lakkireddypalli, Annamayya district, has triggered sharp criticism over what many see as blatant religious discrimination. The order, issued by the local police station, restricts Hindus from conducting bhajans during Muslim Namaaz hours, citing a potential for communal tensions. The directive, instead of ensuring law and order for all communities, effectively curtails Hindu religious practices while making special considerations for the Muslim community.

The Police Order

According to the official notice from the Lakkireddypalli Police Station:

“The police personnel on picket duty have reported that you are conducting bhajan programs in your house, and the Muslim community has expressed that they are facing disturbances during their prayers (namaz). In this regard, there is again a possibility of disputes between the Hindu and Muslim communities in the street, which could lead to law-and-order problems.”

The order further instructs Hindus to limit their religious activities:

“For the protection of peace and law and order, you are hereby instructed to conduct your bhajan programs peacefully within your house without causing any disturbance to others. You are also advised to be vigilant regarding new individuals and ensure that no untoward incidents occur.”

Selective Targeting of Hindus?

The notice has drawn severe backlash, with critics arguing that instead of taking action against those causing disturbances, the police have chosen to restrict Hindu religious practices. The reference to the clashes during the Veerabhadra Swamy festival in Rayachoti on March 4, further raises questions, as it mentions alleged miscreants disrupting peace but then inexplicably links it to Hindu worship restrictions in Lakkireddypalli.

LRPF Condemns the Move

Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a legal advocacy group, has strongly condemned the Andhra Pradesh police’s approach, accusing them of biased governance. Sharing the police notice on X, LRPF stated:

“Claiming the possibility of communal tensions, police in Lakkireddypalli, Annamayya District, Andhra Pradesh, issued a public notice restricting Hindus from performing Bhajans in public during Namaaz hours, ordering them to confine their religious practice indoors.”

Speaking to Organiser, Ravindran, the police inspector of Lakkireddypalli, confirmed that the said orders were issued by their department to maintain law and order and were notified after due consultations with their higher-ups.

Appeasement Politics in Andhra Pradesh

The growing pattern of selective enforcement of law in Andhra Pradesh under the current government has sparked serious concerns. While law enforcement should ensure harmony by treating all communities equally, directives like these expose an administration willing to compromise Hindu rights under the pretext of law and order. As public outrage mounts, the government must answer a fundamental question: Is the state protecting all its citizens equally, or is it indulging in one-sided appeasement at the cost of constitutional freedoms?