The din on the use of loudspeakers on religious places continues, but what prevails over it is the unique bond between communities. Muslims in Shirdi have requested the local police and civic authorities to allow the Saibaba temple to use loudspeakers to amplify the aartis. Expressing their disappointment in the Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Trust’s decision to stop using loudspeakers, members of Shirdi’s Jama Masjid and local representatives of the Muslim community have written to the authorities on it.

The trustees, in the letter to the local police station, Superintendent of Police - Ahmednagar, CEO of Shirdi Sai Sansthan, local elected representatives, and the Tehsildar have said, “It is not appropriate to sever the strong bond and unity that Shirdi’s Hindu and Muslim communities have shared for centuries. Why should a footling debate involving the use of loudspeakers be publicised in this way? Despite the fact that we have decided not to broadcast morning Azaan on loudspeakers in accordance with the Supreme Court order, we request that kakad aarti be broadcast on loudspeakers on a daily basis as usual. (SIC)”