Mugdha Das

Assam ends assembly's 90-year-old "Namaz Break" tradition
 

Digital Desk: The decades-old Assam Assembly tradition of a two-hour break on Fridays to allow Muslim legislators to offer 'namaz' has been canceled for the first time during the current budget session. The decision to eliminate the break was made during the House's last session in August, however, it is effective as of the current sitting.

Rafiqul Islam, an AIUDF MLA, expressed discontent with the decision, claiming that it was forced on the basis of numbers.

There are approximately 30 Muslim MLAs in the Assembly. We had opposed the move. But they (the BJP) have the numbers and are imposing it on that premise, Islam claimed.

The Congress Party's leader, Debabrata Saikia, has stated that Muslim MLAs can offer 'namaz' nearby on Fridays.

In August of last year, the Rules Committee of the House, led by the Speaker, decided to end the nearly 90-year-old practice.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the move, saying that it was a practice instituted by the Muslim League's Syed Saadulla in 1937 and that the decision to end the break "prioritised productivity and shed another vestige of colonial baggage."

The action has sparked discussions about how to balance legislative effectiveness in a secular democracy with religious customs. While some regard it as a progressive step, others see it as a reversal of long-held customs that accommodate religious plurality.

This decision represents a new chapter in Assam's legislative history, reflecting changing priorities under a modern, productivity-driven governance structure.