Assam Ends Jumma Break, Sparks Political Dispute

A dispute between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has intensified over the scrapping of a two-hour assembly break for Jumma prayers in Assam. Yadav criticized Sarma for seeking 'cheap popularity' and called him the 'Chinese version of Yogi', referencing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Sarma defended the decision, stating it was a unanimous move by both Hindu and Muslim legislators, and noted that no other state assembly in India has such a break. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh accused Yadav of racism, while Sarma pointed out the absence of such practices in Bihar, where Yadav served as deputy CM. The controversy highlights broader tensions between BJP and opposition parties regarding policies affecting religious practices and social harmony.