Indigenous Muslims of Assam hail distinct status

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Noted personalities, as well as organizations of the indigenous Muslim communities of Assam, have welcomed the State Cabinet's decision to provide 'Assamese indigenous Muslim status' to the Gorias, Morias, Deshis, Jolhas and Syeds.

Talking to The Sentinel, Padmashree awardee Prof Ilias Ali said on Wednesday that a long-standing demand has been fulfilled, and yesterday's decision deserves to be welcomed. Henceforth, members of these communities would be officially regarded as sons of the soil, he pointed out.

Prof Ali is a member of one of the seven sub-committees constituted as per the directive of the Chief Minister to undertake a study on population stabilization, healthcare, cultural identity, education, financial inclusion, and skill development and women empowerment of indigenous Muslim communities.

Prof Ali said today that the sub-committees have already submitted their respective reports to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has given an assurance to implement the recommendations contained therein. Implementation of these recommendations will greatly benefit these indigenous communities, Prof Ali asserted.

On the other hand, Nekibur Zaman, senior advocate and chairman of the Joint State Haj Committee, Assam told The Sentinel that they have been pressing for recognition of the distinct identity of the indigenous Muslim communities of the State since 2006. They have been suffering from an identity crisis due to the presence of migrants Muslims of East Bengal origin. "We were clubbed together with the migrant Muslims as the minority community of Assam," Zaman pointed out.

He said that when the BJP-led Government first came to power in Assam under the leadership of Sarbananda Sonowal, they highlighted various issues of the indigenous Muslims of the State. As a result, the Government had allocated funds in the State Budget for the welfare of indigenous Muslims, he said, adding that the funds could not be used due to certain factors.

Zaman added that after Himanta Biswa Sarma became the Chief Minister, the seven sub-committees were constituted to study issues pertaining to the indigenous Muslims of Assam. Now that the Cabinet has given 'Assamese indigenous Muslim status', these communities desire that they be given an ethnic identity as well after carrying out a special census, he said.

Meanwhile, Muminul Aowal, BJP leader and convenor of the 'Janagoshtia Sammanai Parishad, Asom' (JSPA), termed the Cabinet's latest decision as a momentous one for indigenous Muslims who have been suffering due to the all-round aggression of Muslims of East-Bengal origin. He thanked the Chief Minister for this step and asserted that it was a pledge of the BJP to provide a distinct identity to the indigenous Muslims.

Gorai-Moria-Deshi Jatiya Parishad president Nurul Haque has also welcomed the Government's "brave decision". He said that a particular section had been opposing the grant of a distinct identity to the indigenous Muslims and trying to confine them within a narrow religious identity.

Also READ:    ASSAM CABINET DECISIONS: Indigenous status to 5 Muslim communities

Also Watch: