Why Uttarakhand's Namaz break is not an unusual decision; even Centre allows it
Howsoever hard the BJP may try and howsoever election oriented Uttarakhand government's decision may be, the latest notification is not unusual. The Namaz relaxation is allowed in many states and even at the Centre for Muslim employees.
In Short
- BJP is up in the arms over Uttarakhand government giving a Namaz break to Muslim employees on Fridays.
- However, Namaz relaxation is allowed in many states and even at the Centre for Muslim employees.
- This practice has been continuing for the Central government's Muslim employees since British time.
- 1954 memorandum.
In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped his speech midway at Kharagpur on his maiden campaign for West Bengal assembly elections. Modi paused because he heard the sound of Azaan from a nearby mosque.
"Excuse me, Azaan was on. Because of me, there should not be any problem to anyone's prayer, so I paused for a few minutes," PM Modi had then explained. BJP president Amit Shah had done a similar thing at a Kolkata rally in December, 2014.
The two leaders and their party, BJP tried to send a message to the Muslims. Now, the same BJP is up in the arms over Uttarakhand government giving a Namaz break to Muslim employees on Fridays. The BJP finds it very unusual. The BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, "What if Hindu community says that they need 2-hour break on Monday for Shiv Puja, on Tuesday for Hanumanji, on Sunday for Sun God?"
NAMAZ RELAXATIONWhat if Hindu community says that they need 2-hour break on Monday for Shiv puja, on Tuesday for Hanumanji, on Sunday for Sun God?: N Kohli pic.twitter.com/KvvWFLcI7t ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016
But, howsoever hard the BJP may try and howsoever election oriented Uttarakhand government's decision may be, the latest notification is not unusual. The Namaz relaxation is allowed in many states and even at the Centre for Muslim employees.
In an RTI reply in 2010, the Department of Personnel and Training told the petitioner that Muslim employees of the central government are allowed to take a break of one-hour during lunch time for Friday prayers. This practice has been continuing for the Central government's Muslim employees since British time. The RTI documents show that in 1963, the Ministry of Defence was directed to allow a similar break for employees in the military establishment.
Also read: What if Hindus ask for puja breaks: BJP on Uttarakhand's Friday namaz break for Muslims
No central government including the Vajpayee government rescinded the pre-Independence circular.
IN STATES
According to a 1980-circular of Andhra Pradesh government, the Muslim employees are allowed to take a 90-minute break between 12.30 pm to 2 pm on Fridays. Similarly in Bihar, the government, in 2012, fixed the time for Friday prayer break of two hours between 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm including the lunch recess.
However, the breaks were allowed earlier also in Bihar. The 2012-Bihar circular reads, "Though Muslim employees have been availing special permission to offer Friday prayers since the British regime, we have received public complaints regarding fixing time limit for Friday prayers."
THE JHARKHAND CASE
On the same issue, there was a ruckus in Jharkhand state assembly in January 2015, when the Speaker did not give a Friday's Namaz break- a practice that continued for 15 years. The Opposition cried foul saying that the practice had continued since the creation of the state. In response, Speaker Dinesh Oraon said that Namaz break was not included in the rules of the house.
Former speaker Inder Singh Namdhari said the tradition of adjourning the House for lunch break at 12.30 pm on Fridays was inherited from unified Bihar to facilitate Muslim members offer Namaz.
A DIFFERENT CASE IN ASSAM
Last month, the Assam government withdrew the permission to state-run madrassas to close the educational institution on Fridays and during the month of Ramzan. Till then, it was practice for long. However, in the modification order, the BJP government allowed a one-hour break for Jumma Namaz (Friday prayers).
Also read: Govt-run madrassas in Assam will not be allowed Friday holiday