Guwahati, February 23: The Assam Assembly scrapped 90-year old ‘Namaz Break’ tradition on Sunday, implementing a last year’s decision.
The Namaz Break was allowed on every Friday to the Muslim legislators during the Assembly to offer namaz.
The Namaz Break, a customary two hour was formally discontinued during the ongoing budget session.
The move drew massive criticism from opposition parties, saying disregards to the needs of Muslim legislators and even an anti-secular notion.
Congress leader Debabrata Saikia urged the government for an alternative arrangement to allow Muslim MLAs to pray without missing Assembly proceedings.
Responding to the move affecting communal harmony, AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam accused the ruling BJP of imposing the decision by misusing its majority in the assembly.
Worth mentioning, the decision for aboslishion of the ‘Namaz Break’ was taken in August last year by the Rules Committee of the Assam Assembly. The Namaz Break practice was first introduced in 1937 by Syed Saadulla of the Muslim League
Defending the move, Speaker Biswajit Daimary said the Assembly should function on Fridays like any other day in keeping with the secular nature of the Constitution.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the change, calling it a step toward productivity in the sessions.
