Former BJP MLA Sandeep Joshi leads silent march in Nagpur over DJ ban

As preparations for Ganeshotsav gather pace across the state and the country, the issue of noise pollution caused by loud DJs and sound systems during festivals has flared up again. Former BJP MLA Sandeep Joshi, who was the first to raise the demand for a DJ ban in Nagpur, has now led a silent march on the issue in the city.

Residents of Nagpur came out on the streets against DJs, with the march led by Sandeep Joshi starting from Laxmi Bhuvan Chowk. Those who took part in the march said they had no objection to DJs as such, but that the prescribed noise limits must be followed so that others are not troubled while festivals are celebrated. They said they were not opposed to any festival, and that restrictions were needed only on the nuisance and noise pollution caused by DJs and sound systems.

Sandeep Joshi said the police administration was taking whatever action it considered appropriate in its own way, but that the court's order was not being implemented the way it should be. He said the High Court had given its ruling the previous day, in which the police administration had been clearly directed to take the strictest possible action. He added that he wanted to say, through the march, that they were not opposed to any festival, any procession anywhere, any religion or any political party, and that their only and clear issue was the restriction on noise.

Meanwhile, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken serious note of the DJ noise during Nagpur's Dahi Handi and Marbat festivities. The bench has directed Nagpur Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil to ensure strict enforcement of the notification restricting DJs. The petitioners had presented video evidence in court showing that DJs were played on a large scale during the Dahi Handi and Marbat processions despite the notification being in force. A petition on the noise pollution issue was filed in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court by the Trimurtinagar Mandal.

The court has also directed that the restrictions on DJs be enforced not only in Nagpur but also in other districts of Vidarbha. Meanwhile, Sandeep Joshi, a leader of the ruling party and a former mayor of Nagpur, has taken to the streets over the DJ ban issue, and a large number of residents gathered at Laxmi Bhuvan Chowk in support of his stand.