The party wants a room for Hindus to recite Hanuman Chalisa
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A row has erupted in Jharkhand after a separate space was reserved in the new Assembly building for namaz (Muslim prayer). The Bhartiya Janata Party which is in opposition has responded with demand for a room for Hindus to recite Hanuman Chalisa.
Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Secretariat on September 2 issued an order stating that the room number TW 348, in the new Assembly building of Jharkhand, has been allotted to offer the Namaz.
The BJP has objected to the decision arguing that Hindus should also get a room to offer prayer.
“If Muslims can offer namaz in a separate room, why can’t Hindus be allowed to recite Hanuman Chalisa (in a separate room). I urge the Secretary of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly that five rooms or a hall be alloted to Hindus to recite Hanuman Chalisa,” a BJP leader was quoted as saying by media reports.
BJP leader CP Singh who has previously served as speaker of the Assembly demanded that a temple should also be built at the Assembly premises.
“I’m not against Namaz room but then they should also build a temple at Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha premises. I even demand that Hanuman Temple should be set up there. If the Speaker approves, we can build the temple at our own cost,” he told ANI.
The BJP is likely to bring up the issue on the floor of the House as well as outside the Assembly.
Speaker Rabindra Mahato has defended the order saying there was nothing new about it as similar arrangements were in place since the time of undivided Bihar.
“On Fridays, the Assembly is adjourned half an hour earlier for namaz. In the old Vidhan Sabha building, there was an arrangement and a place for namaz. Since the House has shifted to a new building and no space was marked for namaz, a room has now been allotted,” India Today cited Mahato as telling them.
Hafizul Ansari, Jharkhan minority affairs minister, called the decision of the speaker “perfectly alright”.
“Minority ministers used to offer namaz in their cabins with great difficulty. They had no option but to go back to their residences and come back in haste to attend the session. The BJP’s character is well known to all. It is always on the lookout to play politics on trivial issues connected to religion,” he said.
The new Assembly building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. It has been dubbed as the first paperless Assembly in the country.
