Maharashtra DJ rules: CM Fadnavis calls for consensus on restricting high-decibel music during festivals

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the state government was working towards building a consensus on restricting the use of highdecibel DJ systems during festivals reported the PTIFadnavis also called for a return to traditional forms of celebration saying excessive noise during festivals should be reducedSpeaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Pune CM Fadnavis condemned the assault on activist Vidyanand Bapat who has been campaigning against the use of DJs and loudspeakers during festivals according to the PTIBapat was allegedly assaulted on Thursday while speaking to a television news channel on Tilak Road in PuneFadnavis said people could hold different opinions on the issue but violence was unacceptableldquoI have already condemned yesterdays incident There can be different points of view and people can be on either side but violence is not right Everyone should put forward their viewsrdquo he said as per the PTIGovernment wants dialogue before policyCM Fadnavis said he had spoken to the Pune police commissioner and that there appeared to be broad agreement among stakeholders on the need to curb excessive sound systems that cause inconvenience to peopleHowever he said the government would not immediately introduce a statewide policy on the issueThe Chief Minister said discussions with stakeholders were needed first followed by a policy decision once a consensus was reachedldquoOur experience is that wherever discussions have been held 90 to 95 per cent of people agree Therefore this has to happen through discussion and once that is done a policy can be framed and an order issuedrdquo he said the news agency reportedlsquoMove towards traditional celebrationsrsquoCM Fadnavis said festivals had greater significance when celebrated in a traditional mannerHe acknowledged that practices that had developed over the years could not be removed through legal action aloneldquoLaw has to be used otherwise such practices cannot be stopped But along with that it is more important to take people into confidence and find a way forwardrdquo he said reported the PTIHe said the governments direction was clear and that Maharashtra should move towards traditional celebrations or at the very least reduce very high levels of noise pollutionHighpowered DJs likened to an lsquoearthquakersquoFadnavis compared the vibrations produced by highpowered DJ systems to an ldquoearthquakerdquo underlining the intensity of the sound systemsDespite this he said a statewide policy would take time as the government was currently consulting different stakeholdersNagpur Dahi Handi mandals raise concernsAsked about some Dahi Handi mandals in Nagpurs Badkas Chowk area that have insisted on using DJs despite a ban Fadnavis said the police commissioner and the mandals would hold discussions to find a solution as per the PTIThe issue comes amid increasing restrictions on highpowered sound systems during festivals in parts of MaharashtraFadnavis praises Bapatrsquos MarathiFadnavis also commented on Bapats use of Marathi saying the activists speech had been ldquotrendingrdquo and praising his command of the languageldquoHis speech is certainly an example of the purity of Marathi and it is a pleasure to hear such languagerdquo he said the news agency reportedHowever Fadnavis added that Bapat should present his views in a more accommodative and inclusive manner so that others did not feel troubled by themwith PTI inputs