'Has Sam Pitroda's Spirit Entered Tejashwi Yadav,' BJP on 'Chinese Version’ Barb at Assam CM Himanta

Ranchi: After the Assam Assembly scrapped the two-hour Namaz break in the state, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, said, "In an attempt to gain cheap popularity and become the 'Chinese version of Yogi,' the chief minister of Assam deliberately keeps doing acts that harass Muslims."

Reacting to Yadav's remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told ANI, "Tejashwi Yadav said that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the 'Chinese version'. just because he was born in Assam.. Has Sam Pitroda's spirit entered Tejashwi Yadav?... It is the character of the INDI alliance to not respect the Constitution and insult every person... Rahul Gandhi had started his Bharat Jodo Yatra Part 2 from the Northeast itself. He (Rahul Gandhi) should tell whether this is a statement to unite India?... On this, Rahul Gandhi and Gaurav Gogoi should say when will they (Congress) break ties with RJD?..."

Himanta Slams Yadav For His Remarks on Namaz Break Rule

Sarma on Saturday slammed Yadav for his remarks on the Namaz break rule and advised him to practice before preaching.

Sarma was addressing media persons here on the occasion of former JMM leader Lobin Hembrom's joining the BJP at the saffron party headquarters.

"Tejashwi Yadav is criticising me but I want to ask him...is there any such practice in Bihar? You (Yadav) should have implemented a four-hour break when you were deputy chief minister of Bihar. Practice it first before preaching," Sarma said.

Yadav on Friday had alleged Sarma of seeking "cheap popularity" after the Assam assembly scrapped a two-hour Jumma break.

"I will re-implement the two-hour Jumma break, if those who are advising me first put into practice a four-hour break in their respective states," Sarma said.

He said that excluding the Assam assembly, there is no provision for such practice of the British legacy from 1937 anywhere including in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.

"Doing away with the two-hour Jumma break was not the chief minister's decision but it is the decision of all Hindu and Muslim legislators. When the Assembly Speaker on Friday announced it, no Muslim MLA in the House raised any protest. There are 25 Muslim MLAs in Assam assembly out of a total 126 legislators," he said.

The proposal to do away with this provision in the Rules of Procedures of the assembly was placed before the Rules Committee, headed by the Speaker, which unanimously agreed to drop the practice, he said.

Sarma said that the decision was being criticized only outside Assam, while the state legislators showed their commitment to working towards the development of the country.

(with PTI inputs)