RJD Leader Manoj Jha Criticizes Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Over Jumma Prayer Break Decision
New Delhi [India], August 31: RJD leader Manoj Jha has strongly criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for ending the two-hour adjournment for Jumma prayers in the state assembly. Jha accused CM Sarma of engaging in ‘dog whistle’ politics and warned that such actions would not be tolerated by the Assam community.
Jha stated, “If polarization and dog whistle politics become the only tool in your mind, then society continues to remain agitated. The Assam community will never stand for this kind of politics. Such people will go into the dustbin of history.”
JDU leader Neeraj Kumar also condemned the decision, arguing that it goes against the core principles of the Constitution. He emphasized the importance of respecting religious traditions and questioned whether similar bans would be imposed on Hindu practices.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that the decision was made unanimously by both Hindu and Muslim MLAs to promote work efficiency and end a colonial-era practice that aimed to divide society. The Assam assembly will now conduct its proceedings without any adjournment for religious purposes, starting at 9.30 am every day, including Fridays.
Doubts Revealed
RJD -: RJD stands for Rashtriya Janata Dal, which is a political party in India. It is mainly based in the state of Bihar.
Manoj Jha -: Manoj Jha is a leader and spokesperson of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He is also a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament.
Assam CM -: Assam CM refers to the Chief Minister of Assam, a state in northeastern India. The current Chief Minister is Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Himanta Biswa Sarma -: Himanta Biswa Sarma is the Chief Minister of Assam. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has held various important positions in the state government.
Jumma prayer -: Jumma prayer is a special prayer that Muslims perform every Friday. It is an important weekly event in Islam.
Dog whistle politics -: Dog whistle politics refers to the use of coded language in political messaging that appears normal to the general population but has a specific meaning to a targeted subgroup.
JDU -: JDU stands for Janata Dal (United), which is another political party in India. It is mainly active in the state of Bihar.
Neeraj Kumar -: Neeraj Kumar is a leader of the Janata Dal (United) party. He is known for his political activities and statements.
MLAs -: MLAs stands for Members of the Legislative Assembly. They are elected representatives who make laws and policies for a state in India.
Colonial practice -: Colonial practice refers to customs or policies that were introduced during the time when India was ruled by the British. These practices are often seen as outdated and divisive.