Author: HTC
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: February 22, 2003
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/printedition/220203/detCIT07.shtml
Worried by the low turnout of devotees
during namaaz and the rise of social evils among the young generation,
the maulvi of Jogiakhera village in Muzaffarnagar has issued a fatwa against
watching television.
In compliance of the decree, villagers
smashed at least three television sets of warned people against watching
TV.
"The TVs of Istakbol and Dulla were
completely damaged by the mob", said Mohd. Akhtar, pradhan of the village
who now claims that everyone in the village have boycotted the idiot box
in compliance of the decree issued by village Maulvi Raees on ID.
During ID, the maulvi counted the
disadvantages of watching TV to the gathering of villagers. The inspired
villagers apparently promised the maulvi to discard their TV sets and adopt
radios sets instead.
Taking advantage of the situation,
residents of nearby villages like Neemkheri and Garhi rushed to Jogiakhera
to buy the TVs being discarded. "As the Fatwa has restricted TV owners
from selling their sets to Muslims, villagers are selling their TVs, VCRs
and CD Players at very low prices to members of communities", said the
pradhan.
The police, however, are still unaware
of the Fatwa.
