People of Assam won't support...: RJD MP Manoj Jha assails CM Sarma after Assembly ends practice of Jumma break

New Delhi [India], August 31 : In response to the Assam chief minister's decision to scrap the practice of 2-hour adjournment for Jumma prayers in the state assembly, RJD leader Manoj Jha lashed out at CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, saying that the Assam community won't stand for the kind of 'dog whistle' politics and such people will go into the dustbin of history.
Speaking to ANI, the RJD MP said "if polarization and dog whistle politics become the only tool in your mind, then society continues to remain agitated. I know the society in which he is trying to do this."
"The Assam community will never stand for this kind of Dog Whistle politics. Such people will go into the dustbin of history," he added.
Earlier today, NDA ally JDU's leader Neeraj Kumar criticized the Assam government's decision and said that no one has the right to attack religious beliefs.
Neeraj told ANI that it would be better if Assam CM had focused more on lifting people above poverty.
"The decision made by the Assam Chief Minister is against the core principles of the country's Constitution. Every religious belief has the right to preserve its traditions. I want to ask CM Sarma: You are imposing a ban on Friday holidays during Ramadan and claim that this will increase work efficiency. A significant part of Hindu tradition is the Maa Kamakhya Temple--can you impose a ban on the practice of sacrifice there?" he said.
The Assam assembly ended the practice of a two-hour adjournment for Jumma Prayers, every Friday that was introduced by Saadulah's Muslim League government in colonial Assam.
Speaking on the decision, CM Himanta Biswa said that Hindu and Muslim MLAs together sat and unanimously took the decision that they would work during this period also.
"The Hindus and Muslims of our assembly sat in the MLA's Rule Committee and unanimously resolved that the two-hour break is not right. We should work during this period as well. This practice started in 1937 and has been discontinued from yesterday," he said.
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, the Assam assembly will commence its proceedings at 9.30 am 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.