The Assam Legislative Assembly has made a significant change by eliminating the decades-old practice of adjourning for two hours on Fridays to allow Muslim legislators to attend namaz prayers.
This tradition, which had been in place since 1937, was originally introduced by the Muslim League’s Syed Saadulla. The decision to scrap this break was taken by the assembly’s rules committee, with the rationale that the assembly should conduct its proceedings on Fridays like any other day, without special accommodations for religious purposes.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the move, stating that it prioritizes productivity and removes a remnant of colonial-era practices. He expressed his gratitude to the Speaker, Biswajit Daimary, for implementing this change.
However, the decision has sparked controversy and criticism from opposition parties, particularly the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and Congress.
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AIUDF MLA Rafikul Islam argued that the move could cause disruptions if important bills are discussed during the former namaz break period, while his colleague Mujibur Rehman accused the government of trying to hurt Muslim sentiments and create divisions between Hindus and Muslims. Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar criticized the lack of broader consultation before making the decision.
In contrast, BJP MLA Taranga Gogoi welcomed the change, emphasizing that a secular country like India should not have special rules for any one community within the assembly. He suggested that if Muslim members need to offer namaz, they could use a separate room, similar to arrangements in airports.
This decision to end the Friday namaz break is part of a broader effort to modernize and remove pre-Independence era practices from the Assam Legislative Assembly.
In addition to this change, the assembly also passed the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024. This new legislation aims to safeguard the rights of Muslim women and men, prevent child marriages, and replace the outdated Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935.
