AIMIM's Waris Pathan Urges Maharashtra CM to Grant Early Exit for Fasting Employees

By A Staff Reporter

Mumbai: In a pointed appeal from Mumbai, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan has demanded that Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis issue a directive allowing all employees observing Ramzan to leave work by 4 pm. Speaking on the issue, Pathan noted, “This system of releasing the employees at 4 pm during the month of Ramazan is not new for Telangana; it has been going on for 25 years. Now, the Andhra government has also issued a similar notification on February 11.” He further asserted that if Maharashtra does not follow suit, it would be discriminatory toward the Muslim community during the holy month of fasting.

Pathan’s remarks come amid a backdrop where both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have long practiced an early exit policy for Muslim government employees. The move, which enables employees to break their fast and perform necessary prayers during Ramzan, has been a standard practice in Telangana for over two decades. Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government reiterated this tradition by notifying that Muslim employees, including teachers and contract workers, could leave their offices one hour early during the fasting period.

“Given this longstanding practice in these states, we demand that Maharashtra extend the same courtesy to those fasting during Ramzan,” Pathan said. “We will write to the Maharashtra CM regarding this matter,” he added, underscoring the need for a uniform approach across the country.