This demand of Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki comes amid a controversy over allotment of a room for offering prayers in the Jharkhand Assembly building.
Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki on Tuesday demanded a uniform prayer hall for Muslims in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly building after allotting a room for offering prayers in the Jharkhand Assembly complex and urged the Speaker to consider it.
“I have been an MLA for the last 15 years. Many times when the assembly is going on, we Muslim MLAs have to leave the assembly to offer prayers. If there is a small prayer hall in the assembly then we will not have to leave the proceedings. On several occasions if you have a question in the pipeline and it’s timeazaan‘ (Prayer call), you can either ask questions or offer prayers,” said Mr. Solanki, who is an MLA from Sisamau seat in Kanpur.
“Even at international airports there is room for ‘worship‘ (Prayer). The Speaker of the Assembly can consider it and no one will be harmed by it.”
Although the legislator said PTI That he has not given any request in writing to the Speaker in this regard.
Mr Solanki’s demand comes amid a controversy over allotment of a room for offering prayers in the Jharkhand Assembly building by the Speaker. The BJP has opposed the move.
The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress have welcomed it.
A notification, dated September 2 and signed by the Speaker’s order by Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Deputy Secretary Naveen Kumar, states, “Allotment of room number TW 348 as prayer hall for offering prayers in the new assembly building. ” The uproar by the opposition BJP over the issue disrupted proceedings in the Jharkhand Assembly for the second day as well.
The party is demanding that the order be withdrawn or the Hanuman temple and places of worship of other religions should also be allowed in the assembly premises.
The saffron party has said that the government should immediately revoke the “unconstitutional and undemocratic decision” on the prayer hall.
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