Assam Assembly Ends 2-Hour Friday Namaz Break, End of another ‘vestige of colonial baggage’, Says CM Sarma

The 27 Muslim MLAs of AIUDF and Congress have objected and protested the move stating Assam is the second state with highest number of Muslim legislators after J&K

Reported by Arindam Das | Copy edited by Oineetom Ojah

The Assam Assembly on Friday announced its decision to scrap its decades-old rule of giving a two-hour namaz break for Muslim legislators on Fridays.

“The rules and proceedings of the Assam Legislative Assembly has been modified and the new rule where the Namaz provision on Fridays after the 9:30 am to 11:30 am session during the leisure time from 11:30 am to 2 pm will no longer be there and House will continue. It is a great decision taken by the government as we are a secular country and all religion are equal. That is why it was necessary to amend the rule, Deputy Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Dr Numal Momin told Northeast Live.

The assembly rules committee adopted a resolution to continue the business of the House on Friday like other days.

“Since the creation of the Assam Legislative Assembly, the sitting of the Assembly on Friday used to be adjourned at 11 am to facilitate Muslim members to go for namaz. The assembly used to resume its proceedings in the post-lunch session after the Muslim members came back from the namaz. On all other days, the House used to conduct its proceedings without any such adjournment for religious purposes,” said a press statement.

It further stated, “Shri Biswajit Daimary, Hon’ble Speaker took note of this matter and in view of the secular nature of the Constitution, proposed that the Assam Legislative Assembly must conduct its proceedings on Fridays like any other day without any adjournment to facilitate Muslim members to go for namaz,”.
Commenting on the development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Tweeted, “By doing away with the 2 hour Jumma break, @AssamAssembly has prioritised productivity and shed another vestige of colonial baggage. This practice was introduced by Muslim League’s Syed Saadulla in 1937. My gratitude to Hon’ble Speaker Shri @BiswajitDaimar5 dangoriya and our legislators for this historical decision.”

https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1829443011656167666
Both AIUDF and Congress Muslim MLAs have objected and protested the move stating Assam is the second state with highest number of Muslim legislators after J&K and the rule for Namaaz break has been prevalent in Assam Assembly since 1937.

In Assam, presently, there are 27 Muslim MLAs out of the 126.

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