Banning listening to music on cell phones, the panchayat of Ghatampur village in Saharanpur district has decreed that any youth — male or female — spotted listening to music on the mobile phone would be hit with a shoe five times and will also have to pay a fine of ` 1,500 to the panchayat. The panchayat has issued the diktat in a bid to deal with socials ills and to prevent the children from listening to vulgar music. Sarpanch Mohammad Ayyub said the decision has been taken at a meeting held at a local mosque on Monday.
“While listening to vulgar music on the mobile phone, they not only ignore traffic but also learn many bad things which are dished out by private radio stations. These radio stations also help boys and girls in getting connected. We have every right to protect our children from such a culture,” said the sarpanch.
Besides vulgar music, obscene MMS, drinking and smoking, shopping of women alone have also been banned by the panchayat. While the media and feminist activist term it as ludicrous and the panchayat as Talibani panchayat there was not a single villager who opposed the decision. Claims a villager.