Ajmal faces flak for 'commul' remark

Special correspondent

SILCHAR, Jan 27: Badruddin Ajmal, AIUDF supremo, has emerged as a weather cock politician who is trying to find more space and power to play decisive role in the politics of the state. First he declared himself as a king maker to send the sigl that no party can form government after the assembly elections at Dispur without his support. He has been found hobnobbing with Congress, BJP, AGP and BPF. For now as things stand, BJP-BPF alliance is now a reality. With the tiol parties, Congress and BJP, disinclined to have any truck with AIUDF, Badruddin Ajmal is caught in a dilemma.

 AGP virtually becoming a spent force with no high prospect at the hustings, he cannot think of adjustment or alignment with it. He has almost ruled out that possibility. With no third front emerging, Ajmal has decided to go it alone. His policy of ‘running with the hare and hunting with the hound’ is well known and well exposed. He has no option than to play commul card and for that no platform is better than a public rally. This is what he did while addressing a public meeting at Bagbar in Barpeta not long ago.

 Perhaps scared by the massive public rally of Prime Minister rendra Modi at Kokrajhar, Ajmal displayed rabid commul overtone by calling upon Muslims to unite and go for huge congregation and show of strength. What he said at the rally is indicative of his mindset to divide the society. This has been dubbed by political alysts as ‘ominous’ and a blot on the secular and democratic structure of the country, besides being contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.

 More venom was poured when AIUDF supremo in the meeting said Muslims cannot live in Assam if BJP comes to power. He has said under rendra Modi, Hindus are united, meaning Muslims have also to be united. Known for his crowd pulling, Ajmal might be planning now in a very subtle and surreptitious manner for such show of strength. In the midst of all the controversy and criticism across the state, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has his own calculation. He sees the possibility of BJP making an alliance with AIUDF. His assumption or presumption is based on BJP-PDP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir.

 It is well known that Tarun Gogoi has been all willing to join hands with AIUDF in order to be in power for the fourth time. He continues his soft-pedaling on Ajmal, indicating he is open to talk and understanding. He is also under the pressure of AICC. In fact, he opened his mind by making statement that AIUDF is less commul than BJP. It is true in politics no one is a friend or a foe. Politics also makes strange bed-fellow. It will be no surprise if Congress and AIUDF go for pre or post poll adjustment.

 Badruddin Ajmal seems to blow hot and cold and has even gone viral by blaming both Congress and BJP for demolition of the Babri Masjid. It might also be a sign of his losing confidence in himself to steer clear his party of the political challenges. It is not for the first time that he has played commul card. Before that he has gone on record at two public meetings to exploit the Muslim psyche by stating NRC update will make lakhs of minority people Bangladeshi. He has also mocked Prime Minister rendra Modi for his unscheduled visit to Lahore where he went to eat beef secretly. From all indications, the coming assembly elections is all set to become hotly contested. It is high time that the political leaders of all hues maintain decorum and decency if elections are to be held in a peaceful atmosphere.