INDIA: CONTROVERSY AROSE OVER GIVING RELIEF TO MUSLIMS IN RAMADAN

In the Indian state of Bihar, a dispute arose over giving relief to Muslims during Ramadan. 

The administration of Nalanda district has issued an order to relax one hour of work for Muslim employees in schools for the month of Ramadan. 

It should be noted that in December 2000, an order was issued by the General Administration Department, according to which Muslim employees in government offices and schools are required to report to duty one hour before the scheduled time during Ramadan and leave one hour before closing time. was allowed.

However, the district education officer issued an order a day ago which said that "Muslim employees in all primary schools in the district shall be allowed to work between 6:30 am to 9:30 am during the holy month of Ramadan and the day shift from 9 am to 9 am." Allowed between 1:30 p.m."

"The department is looking into complaints from some districts about changing the order," an education department official told Indian media.

Normal school hours are from 9 am to 4 pm, but during Ramadan, schools with Muslim teachers change from 8 am to 3 pm.

Bihar State Teachers Eligibility Test Association and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have meanwhile objected to the state government's order.

They say that the district administration did not comply with the order of primary schools, which will lead to discrimination. What if Hindu teachers start asking for similar leniency during the month of Shravan or during the Navratri festival?

"Giving relaxation to Muslim employees is an act of indulgence by the Nitish Kumar government. We just want to know if we are following any Sharia law," said a member of the BJP's sub-organisation working for other backward units. Are they or are they running according to the constitution?"

Meanwhile, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, "BJP is unnecessarily raising the issue as this arrangement has been in place for a long time and was followed during the NDA regime."