Guwahati- The Assam Assembly has ended its decades-old tradition of a two-hour break on Fridays to allow Muslim legislators to offer ‘namaz.’ The decision, taken during the last session in August 2023, was implemented for the first time in the ongoing budget session.
AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam criticized the move, calling it a decision imposed through numerical strength. “There are about 30 Muslim MLAs in the Assembly. We opposed the move, but the BJP used its majority to push it through,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia of the Congress suggested an alternative, proposing that arrangements be made for Muslim MLAs to offer prayers at a nearby location. He noted that several MLAs missed important discussions due to the removal of the break.
The Rules Committee of the House, led by Speaker Biswajit Daimary, decided to discontinue the practice last year. Daimary argued that the secular nature of the Constitution necessitated uniform Assembly proceedings on all working days.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the decision, stating that the practice was introduced in 1937 by the Muslim League’s Syed Saadulla and discontinuing it marked a shift towards prioritizing productivity and shedding colonial-era customs.
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