March 4, Lucknow Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), criticized the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday for removing unauthorized loudspeakers from places of worship during Ramadan and urged officials to respect all faiths fairly and impartially.

“India is a secular country that respects all religions,” Mayawati wrote on X. The federal and state governments need to treat all religious adherents equally and without prejudice in such a scenario, but it is not acceptable to take a stepmotherly stance toward Muslims, especially when it comes to religious concerns.

She also emphasized that regulations pertaining to limitations and exceptions for religious holidays have to be applied equitably to all religions.

“The rules and regulations related to restrictions and exemptions for festivals of all religions should be implemented equally without any bias, which does not seem to be happening,” she said.

The head of the BSP cautioned that such selective enforcement would upend social harmony and tranquility. As a result, it is normal for social harmony and tranquility to decline, which is quite concerning. This is something that governments need to take note of,” she said.

For Muslims, Ramadan is a month-long ritual of fasting and special prayers that started on Sunday in India. Following the discovery of the crescent moon, festivities are also in progress in a number of other nations.

Muslims engage in special nighttime prayers called Tarawih, when the whole Quran is recited, and keep fasts from dawn till sunset throughout the month.

The Uttar Pradesh government, meanwhile, has begun to clamp down on loudspeakers that are playing music louder than is allowed at all places of worship.

Muslim religious leaders have called for accommodations for the use of loudspeakers during Ramadan since the police have been severely implementing the prohibition.