‘…then stop the practice of sacrifice in Kamakhya temple too’, said JDU leader on cancellation of namaz holiday in Assam assembly

The Assam Assembly on August 30, 2024 abolished the British-era rule that allowed Muslim members of the House to take a two-hour break to offer namaz on Fridays. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called it a historic decision. Thanking Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary and MLAs, he said the House has given priority to productivity by shedding this colonial-era burden. He said the practice was started in 1937 by Syed Saadullah of the Muslim League.

Although the Chief Minister of Assam is calling this decision historic, his party’s allies have criticized this decision. JDU leader Neeraj Kumar said, ‘This decision of the Assam government is against the standards of the Constitution. All religions have the right to keep their traditions and customs alive. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says that this will increase the efficiency of the House. Then I would like to tell him to also ban the practice of sacrifice in Kamakhya temple. No one has the right to attack religious practices. It would have been better if the Chief Minister had focused his attention on lifting people above the poverty line and ensuring that Assam does not have to face floods.’

Also read: ‘For cheap popularity…’, opposition surrounded CM Sarma when namaz break was banned in Assam assembly

Taking leave during work and worshipping is also not good: Santosh Suman

Santosh Suman, leader of Hindustan Awam Morcha, another BJP ally Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party, has defended the Assam government’s decision. He said, “Our country is secular. The Constitution respects everyone. Every person has the freedom to follow his own way of worship. There is a system in the country. If things have been going on for centuries, how can we stop them? But if we worship even after working hours, Allah and God will listen to us. Everyone has the right to follow their religion. But taking leave during work hours to worship is also not right.”

Himanta trying to become the Chinese version of Yogi: shiny

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav targeted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on this issue and said that he is doing all this to gain cheap popularity. He said, ‘In an attempt to become the Chinese version of Yogi, the Chief Minister of Assam deliberately keeps doing things that trouble Muslims. People of all religions except RSS were involved in the independence of the country. Our Muslim brothers have sacrificed in getting the country independence and as long as we are here, no one can harm them.’

Also read: MLAs will no longer get 2 hours of Jumma holiday in the assembly, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted

Let our government come, this will change: Farooq Abdullah

On this issue, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah while talking to media persons said, ‘This country is known for unity in diversity. We have every religion and every language, be it Tamil Nadu, Kashmir, Bengal or Maharashtra. Any state, every state has a different culture and that is why India is a federal structure and we have to protect every religion. Nothing is permanent, it will change when the time comes. Let our government come, good things will be implemented again. We will tell them not to do such acts. We have to take care of people of every religion.’ On the contrary, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has defended the decision saying that it was taken with consensus between Hindu and Muslim MLAs.