Indigenous minorities' SOS to Dispur; Save us from infiltrators: JSPA

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assamese Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians have cried for help from the State government to ensure their rights and security as they "have come under the threat from the Muslims of East Bengal origin".

The leaders of these minority communities have said that they are bound by the assurances given by the State government for their wellbeing. They, however, rue the fact that the State government hasn't translated the assurances as yet.

Around 30 organizations of Assamese Muslims and other minority communities of the State held a meeting on their various demands here on Saturday. The meeting was held under the banner of the 'Janagosthiya Samannay Parishad, Asom' (JSPA).

Addressing the media after the meeting, JSPA's chief convener Muminul Aowal said, "The Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians and also the indigenous Muslims like the Gorias, Morias, Desis, indigenous Muslim tea tribes, Jalahas and others comprise a population of 50-60 lakh in the State, and around 30 lakh of them are voters. While the indigenous Muslims comprise around 10 per cent population of the State, the Assamese Christians comprise 4 per cent, the Assamese Buddhists 0.2 per cent, the Assamese Sikhs 0.09 per cent, and the Assamese Jains comprise 0.08 per cent.

"The indigenous Muslims can tilt the mandate in around 25 constituencies in the State. We appeal to all the political parties to give priority to the indigenous Muslims while giving tickets in those constituencies.

"During the past four-and-a-half years, the State government gave a whole lot of assurances that haven't been materialized as yet. Now, we want the government to translate all those assurances into a reality before December 31, 2020. One of the assurances is the socio-economic survey of the indigenous Muslims of the State. However, even after allocating Rs 100 crore in the State Budget of 2018-19 for the survey, the amount has not been released as yet.

"The State government should reserve 102 LACs (Legislative Assembly Constituencies) for the indigenous people of the State. The government should also make way for reserved seats in an Upper House (Legislative Council) for communities that have no representations in the State Assembly. The State has 30 development councils, but there's no such council for the indigenous Muslims like the Desis, the Sikhs, the Jains and the Garos. The government should create development councils for these communities as well, besides reviving the development councils that have been lying inactive. The government should also materialize its assurance by forming the proposed 'Assamese Muslim Development Corporation'.

"The government should conduct a survey of the over 15,805 bighas of landed property of the State Wakf Board, besides making them free from encroachment. The government should also come clear on the Rs 1 crore released by the Centre to the State government for the construction of the office of the State Wakf Board. However, not a single penny of the amount has been spent as yet. Why?

"The State government should also issue certificates for the students belonging to these communities identifying them as minorities.

"Besides making the newly-constructed Haj Bhawan at Jalukbari in Guwahati operational, the air fare of the Haj pilgrims from the Northeast should be made on a par with their counterparts from other States of the country."

The meeting, according to Aowal, adopted as many as 25 resolutions that would be made known to the State government. In January next, these minority communities are going to hold a congregation to bring about political, social and economic awareness among them and to also chalk out their next course of action.

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