“Decision taken to prioritise productivity”: Assam CM Sarma after assembly ends practice of two-hour Jumma break

Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 30 (ANI): Following the decision of Assam Assembly to scrap the rules that facilitated Muslim members, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that the decision was taken to prioritise the productivity of the assembly.

Calling the decision as historic, CM Sarma expressed his gratitude towards the Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary for this decision.

In a social media post on X, Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, “By doing away with the 2 hour Jumma break, @AssamAssembly has prioritised productivity and shed another vestige of colonial baggage. This practice was introduced by Muslim League’s Syed Saadulla in 1937. My gratitude to Hon’ble Speaker Shri @BiswajitDaimar5 dangoriya and our legislators for this historical decision.”

An important milestone to reclaim true secularism in Assam. Assam Assembly today has ended the practice of a 2 hour adjournment for Jumma Prayers, every Friday. This practice was introduced by Saadulah’s Muslim League Government in colonial Assam.

Assam Legislative Assembly today officially amended the rule providing for two-hour break Jumma break, historically observed to facilitate Muslim legislators to offer Fridays prayers.

According to the previous rule, the sitting of the Assembly on Friday used to be adjourned at 11 am to facilitate Muslim members to go for namaaz, but, as per the new rule, the Assembly will conduct its proceedings without any adjournment for religious purposes.

As per the amended rule, Assam assembly will commence its proceedings at 9:30am every day, including Fridays.

The order stated that the amendment was done to scrap the colonial practice which aimed at dividing the society on a religious basis.

As per the order, the proposal was first presented to the Rules Committee headed by Biswajit Daimary, Speaker of the Assembly, which unanimously agreed to drop this rule.