Andhra Follows Telangana: Ramzan Leave Order

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Andhra Pradesh government allows Muslim employees to leave work an hour early during Ramzan.
• The decision follows a similar order in Telangana, which was criticized by the BJP.
• Andhra Pradesh is governed by Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, an ally of the BJP.
• This decision puts the BJP in an interesting position, given their prior criticism.
• Telangana’s government had also permitted early leave for Muslim employees during Ramzan.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

The Andhra Pradesh government has issued an order allowing Muslim employees to leave work an hour early during Ramzan, days after Telangana’s Congress government issued a similar order. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had slammed the Telangana decision as “appeasement politics.” Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), an ally of the BJP, leads Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh is providing this facility to its Muslim employees during Ramzan.

The Telangana government had previously permitted Muslim employees, including teachers, contract workers, and public sector staff, to leave at 4 pm from March 2 to March 31, excluding essential duties. The decision for early Ramzan leave in Telangana was previously implemented.

BJP MLA Raja Singh swiftly criticized the Telangana move, accusing the Congress of favoritism. “Telangana government allows early leave for Ramzan but ignores Hindu festivals. Equal rights for all, or none,” he posted on social media, sharing a copy of the official circular. The BJP has often voiced its opposition to such decisions.

However, Andhra Pradesh, where the BJP’s ally, the TDP, is in power, has now followed suit with a near-identical order. The state’s directive allows all Muslim employees, including those on contract and working in village and ward secretariats, to leave an hour before closing time from March 2 to March 30 to perform religious rituals. This decision gives relief to Muslim employees.

“The government permits all the employees who profess Islam, including teachers and persons hired on contract, outsourcing basis and also Village/Ward Secretaries, to leave their offices/ schools early by an hour before closing time on all working days during the Holy month of ‘Ramzan’, from 2nd March to 30th March to perform necessary rituals as per guidelines issued by the concerned authorities, except when their presence is required due to exigencies of services during the above said period,” the order read.

Defending Telangana’s move, Congress leader and state government adviser on minority affairs, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, dismissed the BJP’s criticism as selective outrage.

“The facility was given during the BRS regime. Many BJP governments also offer this in other states. It’s not new and has been in place for years,” he said, adding that governments routinely provide relaxations during festivals, including for Hindu celebrations like Ganesh Chaturthi and Bonalu. All religions should be respected and their festivals celebrated.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• Andhra Pradesh government has granted early leave to Muslim employees during Ramzan.
• This follows a similar decision in Telangana, which drew criticism from the BJP.
• The Andhra Pradesh government is led by the TDP, an ally of the BJP.
• The BJP had accused the Telangana government of “appeasement politics.”
• A Congress leader defended the move, stating that such relaxations are common during festivals.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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