Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 21: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to allow Muslim government employees to leave work two hours early after 4 pm during the holy month of Ramadan, similar to the practice in Telangana.

KPCC vice president A R M Hussain submitted a formal request in this regard, stating that party leaders will soon meet CM Siddaramaiah to press for the demand.

KPCC vice presidents Syed Ahmed and A R M Hussain have requested the Karnataka government to implement a policy similar to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where Muslim government employees are permitted to leave work two hours early during Ramadan.

A letter regarding this request has also been sent to CM’s political secretary and legislative council member Nazeer Ahmed.

With the holy month of Ramadan approaching, the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments have already permitted Muslim employees to leave work one hour early.

The Telangana government has announced that all Muslim government employees, teachers, contract workers, outsourced employees, and those working in corporations and public sector units will be allowed to leave at 4 pm during Ramadan, observed from March 3 to 31 this year. However, this exemption does not apply to employees engaged in emergency and essential services.

Meanwhile, the BJP has strongly opposed this move by the Telangana government, calling it discriminatory. The party criticised the Congress government, stating that such benefits are not extended to Hindus and accusing it of indulging in appeasement politics.

Similarly, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led Andhra Pradesh government under chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has also announced that Muslim employees will be allowed to leave work an hour early during Ramadan.