Assam Assembly abolishes 2-hour break for Friday ‘namaz’

Guwahati, August 30

The Assam Assembly has done away with a two-hour break provided on Fridays to facilitate Muslim legislators to offer ‘namaz’, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The rule will be implemented from the next session, an Assembly official said.

In a post on X, Sarma said, “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,” Sarma added.

For the last time, this two-hour break was provided on Friday, the final day of the Autumn session of the Assembly, the official said.

An official statement circulated in the House, a copy of which was made available to reporters, said the Rules Committee of the Assembly had unanimously agreed to drop this practice.

“Accordingly, today, the House adopted a motion to amend this rule so as to provide for sitting of the House for conduct of its proceedings on Fridays like any other day,” the statement added.

The five-day Autumn session of the Assam Assembly concluded on Friday, with discussions on various issues concerning the state and passage of several new and amendment bills.

The House passed 16 bills during the five-day sitting, including three new legislations, Daimary said.