Assam Assembly Scraps Jumma Break in Historic Shift

The Assam Legislative Assembly has ended the colonial-era practice of a two-hour adjournment for Jumma Prayers every Friday, a move praised as 'historic' by BJP MLA Taranga Gogoi. The decision aims to prioritize productivity and secularism in the legislative process.

In a landmark decision, the Assam Legislative Assembly has abolished the two-hour adjournment for Jumma Prayers, a practice dating back to the colonial era. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Taranga Gogoi lauded the move as 'historic,' emphasizing that India is a secular nation.

The Assembly's decision was aimed at ending a tradition that allowed a specific community, introduced by Saadullah's Muslim League government, to take a break for prayer every Friday. 'AIUDF and Congress MLAs should also thank the state government,' Gogoi told ANI on Friday.

According to the new rule, the Assembly will now commence proceedings at 9.30 am every day, including Fridays, without any adjournment for religious purposes. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma echoed the sentiment, thanking Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary for prioritizing the productivity of the assembly and shedding a vestige of colonial legacy.

(With inputs from agencies.)