BJP using anti-CAA protests to malign Muslims: Noted lawyer Nekibur Zaman

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Noted lawyer and activist Nekibur Zaman has accused the ruling BJP of making desperate attempts to use the anti-CAA protests to malign the Muslim community in the State.

“Altogether 35 persons who sustained injuries during the anti-CAA protests were admitted to Gauhati Medical College & Hospital. Among those admitted in GMCH, only eight to nine persons were Muslims. But Cabinet Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during his recent press conference mentioned the names of only those injured persons who are Muslims in a bid to create a perception that the people belonging to the religious minority community were involved in the anti-CAA protests with an ulterior motif. Sarma adopted the same tactics even while announcing the names of those arrested on charges of getting involved in the anti-CAA violence,” Zaman told The Sentinel on Thursday.

Zaman, who represents various indigenous Muslims organizations, added that the Muslims particularly those living in the State for decades have participated in anti-CAA protests. “The BJP is, however, trying to give a different colour to the participation of Muslims in the anti-CAA protests.

‘‘Their sole intention is to malign the community and divide the ongoing movement against the contentious legislation,” he alleged.

Nekibur Zaman pointed out that lakhs of Muslims had participated in the historic Assam Movement and many of them become martyrs.

“The Muslim community has every right to oppose the CAA. In the 2016 Assembly elections in the State, 17 per cent of Muslims – with the majority of them from this indigenous community — had cast their votes in favour of the BJP expecting a positive change and progress. So, I appeal to the ruling party leaders not to communalize the anti-CAA protests,” Zaman said. He added that the ruling party has not yet fulfilled many promises that it had made to the Muslims of the State.

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