Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the decision by the assembly, saying it has “prioritised productivity” and has shed the “colonial baggage“.
“By doing away with the 2 hour Jumma break, Assam assembly has prioritised productivity and shed another vestige of colonial baggage,” said CM Sarma.
Himanta said the “practice was introduced by Muslim League‘s Syed Saadulla in 1937″.
“My gratitude to Hon’ble Speaker Shri Biswajit Daimary dangoriya and our legislators for this historical decision,” he added.
This comes a day after the state legislative assembly passed a bill making it compulsory for Muslims in the state to register with the government for both marriage and divorce.
Responding to queries on “Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024”, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured that the government would adhere to Muslim personal law and Islamic rituals while requiring compulsory registration.
Sarma said, “We want to abolish the Qazi system in the Muslim marriage registration process. Apart from it we also want to prevent Child marriage in the state.”
After the bill was passed, Himanta Sarma called it the “historic day” in an effort to fight the “social evil of child marriage.”
“I thank all the legislators who pledged their support to this Bill and Govt’s vision of preventing child marriage. This Bill is above party politics and is a means to give our girls a life of dignity. Next. Banning Polygamy!” he added.
Speaking against the legislation, AIUDF leader Aminul Islam said, “We are against child marriage. The government could have amended some provisions in the previous act, but they repealed the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act and Rules, 1935.”
“We have no other option but to take the matter to court,” Aminul Islam added.