NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit back at Tejashwi Yadav over his “Chinese version of Yogi” remark, saying the RJD leader “should have implemented a four-hour break when he was in power in Bihar”.
Earlier, taking a dig at Sarma over the Assam assembly’s decision to do away with the two-hour namaz break for Muslim MLAs, Tejashwi said that the BJP leader has become a “Chinese version of Yogi (referring to the UP CM) in an attempt to “gain cheap popularity”.
“Tejashwi Yadav is criticising me but I want to ask him…is there any such practice in Bihar? You (Yadav) should have implemented four-hour break when you were deputy chief minister of Bihar. Practice it first before preaching,” Sarma retorted to the Bihar’s ex-deputy CM, according to news agency PTI.
The Assam CM also advised Tejashwi, who also happens to be ex-Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav‘s son, to “practice before preaching”.
“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,” the BJP’s firebrand leader added.
Before Himanta’s response, the BJP flayed Tejashwi for his “racist comment” and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi — who is Tejashwi’s ally in the INDIA bloc — if he would part ways with the RJD after the “hateful” remark.
“Tejashwi Yadav labels Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma as a “Chinese” because he is an Assamese and from the North-East! This reflects racist mentality of the INDI Alliance & it seems Sam Pitroda has taken over mindspace of Tejaswi when he makes such racist comments Does Rahul Gandhi , Gaurav Gogoi endorse this as “Muhabbat ki Dukaan” Will they end ties with RJD for such unconstitutional, anti Bharat Jodo, racist and hateful comments ?” BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla asked in a post.
The entire controversy stems from the Assam assembly’s decision to discontinue a two-hour namaz break practice for Muslim MLAs.
Backing the assembly’s decision, the Assam CM said that excluding Assam assembly, there is no provision of 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 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 total 126 legislators,” he said.
Sarma also said that no legislators in Assam, committed to the development of the country, had any issue with the decision, and only those from outside the state have raised questions.
Earlier, taking a dig at Sarma over the Assam assembly’s decision to do away with the two-hour namaz break for Muslim MLAs, Tejashwi said that the BJP leader has become a “Chinese version of Yogi (referring to the UP CM) in an attempt to “gain cheap popularity”.
“Tejashwi Yadav is criticising me but I want to ask him…is there any such practice in Bihar? You (Yadav) should have implemented four-hour break when you were deputy chief minister of Bihar. Practice it first before preaching,” Sarma retorted to the Bihar’s ex-deputy CM, according to news agency PTI.
The Assam CM also advised Tejashwi, who also happens to be ex-Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav‘s son, to “practice before preaching”.
“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,” the BJP’s firebrand leader added.
Before Himanta’s response, the BJP flayed Tejashwi for his “racist comment” and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi — who is Tejashwi’s ally in the INDIA bloc — if he would part ways with the RJD after the “hateful” remark.
“Tejashwi Yadav labels Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma as a “Chinese” because he is an Assamese and from the North-East! This reflects racist mentality of the INDI Alliance & it seems Sam Pitroda has taken over mindspace of Tejaswi when he makes such racist comments Does Rahul Gandhi , Gaurav Gogoi endorse this as “Muhabbat ki Dukaan” Will they end ties with RJD for such unconstitutional, anti Bharat Jodo, racist and hateful comments ?” BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla asked in a post.
The entire controversy stems from the Assam assembly’s decision to discontinue a two-hour namaz break practice for Muslim MLAs.
Backing the assembly’s decision, the Assam CM said that excluding Assam assembly, there is no provision of 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 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 total 126 legislators,” he said.
Sarma also said that no legislators in Assam, committed to the development of the country, had any issue with the decision, and only those from outside the state have raised questions.