The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, had appointed renowned spiritual discourse speaker Chaganti Koteswara Rao as an advisor with the stated objective of promoting moral values among students in the state. However, the contrast between Chaganti’s earlier appeal regarding noise pollution during Ganesh immersion processions and the recent intervention by Minister Nara Lokesh over DJ vehicles has now triggered discussion on social media.
Chaganti’s Earlier Appeal Against Noise Pollution
A video message in which Chaganti Koteswara Rao appealed against excessive noise pollution during Ganesh Chaturthi immersion processions has now gone viral on social media.
During the Ganesh festival, particularly during immersion processions, Chaganti had made a humble appeal against the increasing use of DJs and excessively loud sound systems. He expressed concern that the loud noise from DJ systems used during processions was causing serious inconvenience to people living in surrounding areas, particularly those who were unwell.
He appealed to devotees to ensure that celebrations conducted with devotion and significant expenditure did not become uncontrolled during the immersion processions. He suggested that the festivities should instead be conducted peacefully with traditional musical instruments, bhajans and devotional songs while cooperating with the police.
Chaganti also said that excessive DJ sound during festivals was causing considerable discomfort to the public and noted that there were demands from ordinary citizens for stronger restrictions on noise pollution.
Lokesh’s Intervention Over DJ Vehicles
Against this backdrop, reports emerged during the latest Ganesh immersion celebrations that police were denying permission to DJ vehicles arranged by some TDP workers and were taking action against certain vehicles.
Minister Nara Lokesh subsequently responded through social media, asking Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha and the Director General of Police to ensure that there were no unnecessary hurdles in granting permissions for DJ vehicles during the immersion processions.
Lokesh said he had been receiving messages that police were not issuing permissions for DJ vehicles. He requested the Home Minister and DGP to intervene and ensure that the required permissions were granted without difficulty. He also specifically appealed that not a single DJ vehicle should be seized during the immersion processions.
Home Minister Anitha later said that she had instructed the police department to process DJ permissions in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.
Questions Over the Contrasting Positions
Lokesh’s intervention has led to a debate on social media over the apparent contrast between Chaganti Koteswara Rao’s earlier appeal to control noise pollution and the Minister’s request to facilitate permissions for DJ vehicles.
Chaganti was appointed by the government as an advisor on moral values with Cabinet-rank status, according to the premise of the debate. Against this background, some social media users are questioning whether the government is giving due importance to his earlier advice concerning the spiritual nature of festivals, public health and the prevention of noise pollution.
Some users have also raised the question: “Is this the respect being given to Chaganti Koteswara Rao’s advice?”
Concerns Over Patients, Elderly People and Children
The debate has also focused on the impact of loud DJ systems on patients, elderly people, young children and other residents.
Critics on social media are questioning whether greater priority is being given to the enjoyment of festival organisers and party workers over the inconvenience caused to vulnerable sections of the public by high-volume sound systems.
At the same time, the government’s stated position, as reflected in the Home Minister’s response, is that DJ permissions should be processed according to the prescribed guidelines. Reports also indicate that authorities have continued to emphasise compliance with noise-control rules and police guidelines during the celebrations.
Debate Over Police Restrictions and Political Intervention
The issue has consequently raised a broader debate over the balance between religious celebrations, public convenience, noise-control regulations and police restrictions.
While police authorities have been tasked with ensuring law and order and communicating the rules applicable to Ganesh festival processions, Lokesh’s intervention has prompted questions on social media about whether political intervention could affect the implementation of such restrictions.
The contrasting messages attributed to Chaganti and the recent position taken by Lokesh have therefore become a topic of discussion, particularly regarding how the government intends to balance festive celebrations with concerns over noise pollution, public health and compliance with police regulations.
