Guwahati: In a historic move, the Assam Legislative Assembly has discontinued its long-standing practice of granting a two-hour break for Muslim legislators to offer Friday namaz. The decision, first made in August last year, was implemented for the first time during the current Budget session.
Rafiqul Islam, an AIUDF MLA, criticized the move, stating that it was imposed based on numerical strength. “There are around 30 Muslim MLAs in the Assembly, but the BJP is enforcing this change because they have the numbers,” he said.
Debabrata Saikia, Leader of the Opposition, suggested an alternative arrangement to allow Muslim legislators to offer their prayers nearby, emphasizing the importance of accommodating religious practices.
The nearly 90-year-old tradition was scrapped following a unanimous decision by the Rules Committee, led by Speaker Biswajit Daimary, who argued that the change aligns with the Constitution’s secular principles. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the move, describing it as the removal of a colonial-era vestige introduced by the Muslim League’s Syed Saadulla in 1937.
Previously, the Assembly functioned from 9 a.m. on Fridays, allowing a break for namaz. With the new rule, proceedings will begin at 9:30 a.m. every day without any interruptions.
