Assam Assembly Ends Friday 'Namaz' Break in Historical Decision

The Assam assembly will discontinue a two-hour break on Fridays for Muslim legislators to offer 'namaz', starting from the next session. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced this decision, stating it prioritizes productivity and removes a colonial practice. The decision has sparked mixed reactions from legislators.

The Assam Assembly will no longer provide a two-hour break on Fridays for Muslim legislators to offer 'namaz', as announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

According to the state's Parliamentary Affairs Minister, this rule will be enforced from the next session, aiming to prioritize productivity.

In a post on X, Sarma highlighted that this change sheds a colonial-era vestige introduced in 1937. He expressed gratitude to Speaker Biswajit Daimary and the legislators for the decision.

For the final day of the autumn session, the break was still in place. The Speaker's office noted that on other days, assembly proceedings continued without such adjournments for religious purposes.

Speaker Daimary, emphasizing the secular nature of the Constitution, suggested that the assembly conducts its Friday proceedings like any other day. The Rules Committee, led by the Speaker, unanimously agreed to drop the practice.

The House adopted a motion to amend the rule, creating history by ending the colonial practice intended to divide society on a religious basis.

However, opposition MLAs questioned the decision and its sudden implementation. Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar expressed confusion over the process, while senior Congress MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury inquired about the abrupt cessation of the longstanding practice.

A ruling BJP legislator mentioned that the motion, containing the matter of abolition, was moved by opposition AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam and passed by voice vote in the House.

(With inputs from agencies.)