Hyderabad/IBNS: In a controversial order, the Congress government in Telangana has relaxed the work hours for all its Muslim employees during the festival Ramzan, media reports said.

Ramzan will begin on March 1 or 2 depending on when the Moon will be seen.

The government employees will be allowed to leave their work place at 4 pm except under certain circumstances.

"Government hereby permit all Muslim government employees/teachers/contract/out-sourcing/boards/corporations and public sector employees working in the state to leave their offices/schools at 4 pm. during the holy month of “RAMZAN" i.e., from March 2 to 31 (both days inclusive) to offer necessary prayers, except when their presence is required due to exigencies of services during the above period," the order reads.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit out at the Congress government accusing it of "appeasement" underlining that no such relaxation of work hours are provided to the Hindus when they fast during Navratri.

The saffron party, which rules the Centre, has also accused the regional government of turning the Muslim community into a "vote bank".

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote on X, "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 religious beliefs of one community but about reducing them to a mere vote bank. It should be opposed."