What if Hindus ask for break for prayer? BJP asks Harish Rawat after Uttarakhand govt gives Muslims special break on Friday

Dehradun: After a report suggested that a special 90-minute break will be given to the government employees from the Muslim community in Uttarakhand for Friday prayers, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday took Chief Minister Harish Rawat to task.

Opposing the special break to Muslims, the BJP asked the Harish Rawat government what if Hindus start taking such break on Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday?

"What if the Hindu community says they need a two-hour break on Monday for Shiv puja, on Tuesday for Hanumanji and on Sunday for the Sun god?" BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

"It is unfortunate. It shows that for the sake of votes, the Congress government of Harish Rawat is willing to go to any limits. What is this logic?" Kohli asked.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Anil Baluni said Rawat took the decision, keeping the next year`s Assembly Elections in mind.

"Harish Rawat has taken this decision out of fear of losing the elections," he told news agency ANI.

"The Uttarakhand Chief Minister is following the Congress tradition of misleading the Muslims. The Congress has taken the decision right before the election. What was on their mind? Do they want to influence elections?" he added.

Shiv Sena's Manisha Kayande also added to the resentment, saying: "It is a wrong move and an appeasement of minorities. The Shiv Sena MPs will raise this issue in Parliament".

A cabinet meeting on Saturday, chaired by Chief Minister Harish Rawat, decided that a special break from 12:30 pm till 2:00 pm will be given to the employees from the community.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyaya said the state cabinet`s decision should be welcomed and those opposing it should introspect.