The opposition BJP in Bihar on Saturday sought to corner the Nitish Kumar government over its decision to advance the duty hours of Muslim employees by one hour during Ramzan, alleging that the government was run by officers owing allegiance to JD(U) and RJD. Is going who believed in the ideology of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).
On Friday, the General Administration Department (GAD) issued an order to advance the duty hours for Muslim employees of the state government by one hour for the month-long Roza (Ramadan) period and the Home Department to make biometric attendance in offices order to modify the system. Biometric attendance was made mandatory for all employees late last year.
State BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal said on Saturday that such an order would certainly help the PFI fulfill its objective of making India an Islamic country by 2045. he told reporters in Patna.
A few months ago, the central government had banned PFI for five years.
JDU and Congress leaders retaliated. Referring to Muslim leaders in BJP, JDU spokesperson and former minister Neeraj Kumar said, “By doing this, Jaiswal is also attacking the leaders of the Margdarshak Mandal of the party.”
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ajit Sharma said it was a practice to give relief to the followers of the Islamic faith during the month of Ramzan as they have a fixed time to offer prayers. He added, “Hindus are also given enough freedom during their festivals.”
Principal Secretary (GAD) B Rajender said the department has been regularly issuing such orders to Muslim employees before Ramzan every year since 2000.
Another GAD official said it had to issue a specific order this year as there was a need to modify the biometric attendance system to protect the salaries of Muslim employees and officers.
