Socio-economic survey of indigenous Muslims: Patna HC verdict paves the way in Assam

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Patna High Court’s dismissal of all petitions filed against the decision of the Bihar Government to conduct a caste-based survey has paved the way for the proposed socio-economic survey of the indigenous Muslims of Assam. The Assam Government was in confusion about whether such a survey came under its jurisdiction.

A delegation of the indigenous Muslims of the state under the banner of the Sadou Asom Goria-Moria Deshi Jatiya Parishad met Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma last evening and discussed the plight of the indigenous Muslims in the state, who have been deprived of all facilities for years and on. The delegation also reminded the Chief Minister of his assurance to the Parishad on a socio-economic survey of the indigenous Muslims in the state.

Noted physician Dr. Ilias Ali, who is one of the delegation, said, “The State Government was in confusion as to under which government, the Centre or the State government, the socio-economic survey of the indigenous Muslims of the state falls. We have cited the example of the Patna High Court dismissing all petitions filed against the decision of the Bihar Government to conduct a caste-based survey. This has made the Chief Minister say that there is no hurdle now in the socio-economic survey of the indigenous Muslims in Assam.”

Dr. Ali said, “The Chief Minister immediately contacted the Secretary of the Welfare of Minorities and Development Department, Adil Khan, and discussed the matter with him in detail. We (members of the delegation) also took part in the discussion with Adil Khan over the telephone.”

The demands raised by the delegation, according to the memorandum submitted by it, are: (i) The government should identify the ethnic groups like Goria, Moria, Deshi through a separate survey and give them OBC status according to their qualifications through the issuance of ethnic certificates and constitutionally protect them.

(ii) A separate corporation should be formed with full authority for the rapid development of the Goria, Moria, and Deshi communities, and this corporation should be cut-off from the Minority Department and formed independently.

(iii) Based on their population, Goria, Moria, and Desi community members should have seat reservations in all autonomous councils.

(iv) The Parishad raised the demand for the formation of a Desi Development Council immediately.

(v) The Parishad raised the demand for declaring the indigenous Muslims of the state as a protected community in all tribal enclaves, i.e., autonomous regions, tribal belts, and blocks.

(vi) The Parishad demanded that the government ensure the unconditional release of some indigenous Muslims of the state who are unfortunately facing cases in the Foreigners Tribunals.

(vii) It demanded proper preservation of the histories and historic resources of the indigenous Muslims of the state, besides the memories of the prominent personalities of the communities.

(viii) The Moria community, belonging to the MOBC category in Assam, resides mainly in 89 villages in 14 districts. Their population in the state is around 5 lakh. The members of this community involve themselves in the brass industry in the state. However, this industry is on the verge of extinction in Assam. The Parishad raised the demand for the modernization of this industry for its revival with financial assistance.

(ix) It also raised the demand for the eviction of encroachers from forest land and government land, wetlands, xatra land, Wakf Board’s property, etc.

(x) Ensuring representation of the indigenous Muslims of the state in the delimitation of constituencies

Noted advocate Nekibur Zaman, the Parishad’s working president Nurul Haque, and other members of the parishad were part of the delegation.

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