GUWAHATI: The Assamese Muslims have raised their voice against State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for some of his recent statements against the religious minorities of Assam and terming them as the ‘descendants’ of Md Ali Jinnah.
Addressing the press in Guwahati on Saturday, leaders of the Brahmaputra Valley Civil Society said that while defending the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 Himanta Biswa Sarma went to the extent of insulting the Muslims of the State by branding them as ‘descendants’ of Md Ali Jinnah and Badruddin Ajmal. They said that Sarma, who took oath in the name of the Constitution of India, has violated the laws of the land by resorting to do politics on religion.
Speaking at the press meet, senior advocate HRA Choudhury said: “Sarma has spoken against the Constitution of India. He’s violated the Indian Constitution. Action should be taken against him in accordance with the law. Saying that 17 LACs (Legislative Assembly Constituencies) in Assam have descendants of Md Ali Jinnah, he has clearly violated the laws of the land. The police should have booked him under 295 IPC and filed a suo motu case against him. Since he has spoken against the Constitution with which he took oath of office, he should be removed from Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s Cabinet.”
Choudhury said: “The NRC is being updated at the directive of the Supreme Court of India, and 90 per cent names of Muslims have been included in the NRC. The Muslims of the 17 LACs as mentioned by Sarma are also Indians. In those 17 LACs only Indians will be elected as legislators, not foreigners. The progenies of those who voted in favour of Lower Assam staying with India during the plebiscite at the partition of the nation are now residing in Lower Assam and Barak Valley. By terming them as descendants of Jinnah, nobody can question their patriotism.”
Choudhury further said: “Himanta Biswa Sarma and Badruddin Ajmal have a tacit understanding. With such a nexus the two have been playing with the sentiments of the Hindus and the Muslims.” Prof. (Dr) Ataur Rahman, former AMC Principal Tofiqur Rahman Borbora, retired IAS officer Md Alauddin, Prof. Abdul Mannan and others also spoke at the press meet.
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