Indigenous Muslims Rally Against Their Immigrant Counterparts

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The indigenous Muslims of the State have reiterated their demand for not giving the indigenous status to immigrant Muslims in the State so as not to let them enjoy constitutional safeguards. The indigenous Muslims are on the job of mobilizing public opinion towards that end.

The Janagosthiya Samannay Parishad (JSP), a conglomerate of 21 indigenous Muslim organizations, held its sotal sabha (a meeting in the courtyard) at Lakhyadhar Bora Khetra in Guwahati on Saturday to discuss the Clause-VI of the Assam Accord.

The key issue of discussion was constitutional safeguards – reservation of seats in the Assam Legislative Assembly and the like – for the ethnic people of Assam who have been bearing the brunt because of infiltrators.

Chief convener of the Parishad, Muminul Aowal said that the Parishad had already met the high-level committee of Clause-VI of the Assam Accord on Friday, and submitted a memorandum on the issue. “It is of no use to spend time on issues like definition of Assamese people, cut-off years etc., while implanting Clause-VI of the Assam Accord. Priority should be on those ethnic groups of Assam who have to suffer politically, socially, culturally, economically and linguistically because of infiltration. Under no circumstances, people entering Assam from the erstwhile East Pakistan and their progenies should be given constitutional safeguards,” said Aowal.

“Due to these infiltrators, the ethnic people of the State are on the verge of being deprived of political rights in as many as 25 Assembly constituencies in the State. All these 25 constituencies should be reserved for the indigenous people of the State. The 25 Legislative Assembly constituencies (LACs) are – Mankachar, South Salmara, Dhubri, Gouripur, Golokganj, West Bilasipara, East Bilasipara, North Abhyapuri, East Goalpara, West Goalpara, Jaleshwar, Bhabanipur, Jania, Baghbor, Soru Khetri, Chenga, Chhaygaon, Dolgaon, Lahorighat, Dhing, Batadrawa, Rupohighat, Samoguri, Yamunamukh and Naoboicha,” Aowal said, and added that smaller ethnic groups such as the Hajongs, Deuris, Tea Tribes, Jalahas and others are the most affected ones in electoral politics. “They fail to send their candidates to the State Assembly. They need an upper House (a Legislative Council) that can ensure their political representation,” he said.

Aowal further said that the Parishad is going to meet Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on the issue of a large section of the indigenous people like the Goriyas, Moriyas, Desais, Jalahas and others who have been declared ineligible for inclusion in the NRC. He said that in order to mobilize public opinion on this issue, a public meeting will be held in the city and later all over the State.

Also Read: Ethnic People Need Constitutional Safeguards: Indigenous Muslims

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