Senior Samajwadi Party figure Abu Azmi has ignited discussions on religious inclusivity by requesting the Maharashtra government to ease work schedules during Ramadan. The veteran leader argues that the holy month demands empathy from the state administration.
Azmi, in an interview, pressed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to mirror policies from southern states. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, public sector workers get off by 4 PM to break their fasts and pray. ‘Maharashtra should follow suit for its Muslim employees,’ he insisted, noting the impending legislative session where such provisions would be crucial.
‘Ramadan is not just a festival; it’s a pillar of faith involving strict fasting from dawn to dusk,’ Azmi explained. His proposal aims to balance devotion with professional responsibilities, a nod to precedents set elsewhere in India.
Venturing into cultural controversies, Azmi slammed ‘The Kerala Story 2’ for peddling ‘love jihad’ myths. He advocated for lawful interfaith unions over cinematic fear-mongering. ‘Make movies that foster love across religions. Punish actual crimes through judiciary, not propaganda,’ he urged, calling on the Supreme Court to step in.
Azmi praised Gujarat’s parental approval mandate for weddings, viewing it as a prudent family-centric policy. On the AI Summit protests by Youth Congress, he decried police overreach, invoking Lohia’s wisdom: empty streets make parliament stray. Protest rights are democratic cornerstones.
This multi-faceted commentary from Azmi underscores tensions between tradition, modernity, and governance in India’s diverse landscape, with Ramadan relief at the forefront.