Assam CM Faces Criticism Over Namaz Break Discontinuation

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is facing backlash from key NDA allies JDU and LJP over the state assembly's decision to discontinue the two-hour Jumma break for Muslim MLAs to offer namaz, a practice that has been in place since 1937. Sarma defended the decision, claiming it was a consensus among legislators aimed at enhancing productivity. Critics, including JDU leader Neeraj Kumar, argue that the move violates constitutional rights to religious practices and called for the government to focus on pressing issues like poverty and floods instead. Senior JDU leader K C Tyagi emphasized that the Preamble of the Constitution guarantees freedom of belief and worship, while LJP's Raju Tiwari insisted that religious practices should be respected. The controversy highlights tensions within the BJP-led coalition as allies question the implications of such decisions on communal harmony. This comes after the Modi government faced similar pushback over a lateral entry scheme advertisement.