Indigenous Muslims stage protest at Dispur Last Gate in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: The Sadou Asom Goria-Moria-Deshi Jatiya Parishad (SAGMDJP) staged a sit-in over a slew of demands, at Dispur Last Gate in Guwahati on Wednesday.

The Muslim body said that people from the Goria, Moria, and Deshi communities are indigenous people and they have been residing in Assam since a long time. They should be declared as ethnic groups, said SAGMDJP general secretary Aktar Hussain.

"We have embraced the Islam religion after converting from other ethnic communities like Mech, Moran, Matak, Koch, Rabha-Hasang, Nath-Jogi, Ahom, Dimasa, Kachari etc. We have no similarities with the immigrant Muslims except for the religion. Our culture, language, heritage is same as other ethnic communities. But, it has hurt our sentiments that many people are trying to put us in the same position with the immigrant Muslims. We have been reduced to an important minority community," Hussain underlined.

A protestor said that despite being indigenous Muslims, many of the people from the aforementioned communities have been listed as 'D' voters and excluded from the final NRC (National Register of Citizens).

Thus, we demand a survey for our community for constitutional, political, social, and economic safeguard, the protestor added.

Hussain highlighted that in 2019-20 budget speech, a development corporation for indigenous Muslims was declared by the government. It was announced that a package will be introduced for the socio-economic development and self-employment schemes for the community along with a separate survey.

"We demand that these works should be implemented at the earliest. We have no representative in the parliamentary politics thus we demand reservation in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Legislative Assembly, Panchayat, and local bodies," said Hussain.

Further the protestors stressed that the rights of the indigenous Muslims should be secured after the formation of the proposed Kamatapur Autonomous Council in the undivided Goalpara district.

Lastly, they demanded funds should be allocated to active the Goria Moria Development council. Similarly, Deshi development council should be formed.

It is to be noted that the protest was held by following the COVID-19 protocols.

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