Telangana government issued a memo — as in previous years — allowing Muslim employees to leave work an hour early at 4 pm between 2 March and 31 March.
Published Feb 18, 2025 | 8:23 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 18, 2025 | 8:23 PM
The BJP accused the Congress-led government in Telangana of indulging in 'appeasement' politics.
Synopsis: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been following the practice of allowing Muslim employees to leave work an hour early during Ramzan. A memo issued by Telangana’s Congress government to this effect has got the BJP’s goat. The party, which has a beef with Telangana, is silent on neighbouring Andhra Pradesh’s TDP-led NDA government issuing a similar memo.
The BJP has raked up a controversy after the Telangana government — as in previous years – issued a memo allowing Muslim employees to leave work an hour early during the holy month of Ramzan.
The memo, issued on 15 February, said Muslim employees in all positions could leave work at 4 pm between 2 March and 31 March. However, it stipulated that the employees should stay back in case of emergencies.
However, the government’s move invited criticism from the BJP, especially MLA T Raja Singh and Amit Malviya, the national convener of the party’s IT cell. Taking umbrage at the government following the practice, the two leaders termed it “appeasement” of the Muslims.
#Telangana: The government issued a memo permitting Muslim employees to leave at 4 pm during #Ramadan from 2 March to 31 March to offer necessary prayers.
However, they will be required to stay back to address any emergencies. pic.twitter.com/SHp0vd7kvv
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) February 17, 2025
Interestingly, Singh, Malviya, and others who have a beef with Telangana are silent on Andhra Pradesh, allowing Muslim employees to leave early during Ramzan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. The BJP is part of the ruling alliance in Andhra Pradesh.
The memo gained traction on X (formerly Twitter) on 18 February. Taking to X, Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh called it “Appeasement politics at its peak! ” “Telangana govt allows early leave for Ramzan but ignores Hindu festivals,” he continued, giving a call for “equal rights for all, or none.”
Appeasement politics at its peak!
Telangana govt allows early leave for Ramzan but ignores Hindu festivals.
Equal rights for all, or none. pic.twitter.com/dIMh8bxWFs
— Raja Singh (@TigerRajaSingh) February 18, 2025
Similarly, Malviya also expressed displeasure at the announcement, deeming it appeasement. “The appeasement bug strikes the Congress government in Telangana, which has approved relaxed work hours for Muslim state employees during Ramzan,” he stated.
“No such concessions are ever granted to Hindus when they fast during Navratri. This tokenism isn’t about being sensitive to the religious beliefs of one community but about reducing them to a mere vote bank. It should be opposed,” he continued.
The appeasement bug strikes the Congress government in Telangana, which has approved relaxed work hours for Muslim state employees during Ramzan. No such concessions are ever granted to Hindus when they fast during Navratri. This tokenism isn’t about being sensitive to the… pic.twitter.com/r2cw1NPGRj
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 18, 2025
Subsequently, similar allegations of appeasement were raised by Pradeep Bhandari, national BJP spokesperson, and Vinod Bansal, VHP’s national spokesperson.
The practice of allowing Muslims to leave early during Ramzan has been in place for a long time, but it got a renewed focus on social media this year.
Memos from 2021, 2022, and 2023 allowing Muslim employees to leave work early during Ramzan.
“As far as I remember, the government came up with this initiative even before the bifurcation, during YS Rajashekhar Reddy’s regime,” a senior journalist recalled.
South First also confirmed that this wasn’t new. Memos issued in 2021, 2022, and 2023, revealed this has been the practice.
Additionally, news reports also confirmed that the same exception was made in 2024. These made Raja Singh’s comments stand out as he would be aware of such a recurrence during his tenure as MLA for two terms.
“The BJP has no business speaking about religious equality when all their politics and history is about communalism and targeting the minorities,” AICC member Kota Neelima told South First.
“All religions are equal before the Telangana Government. Hindu festivals get all days off, including all Navratri and Dasara. Telangana government views that the festivals of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others, all deserve equal respect and consideration. Can BJP say this?” she asked.
She added that the BJP must first hold itself answerable to Hindus over the lives lost in the Kumbh Mela stampede. “And to Mr Amit Malviya, hate tactics won’t work in Telangana, which rejects BJP’s poison as it misrepresents facts,” she stated.
In Andhra Pradesh, the TDP, an NDA ally, has issued a similar notification allowing the early departure of Muslim employees this year. However, the BJP has been silent on Andhra Pradesh.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
