BJP considers reclassifying some Assamese Muslims as indigenous residents

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Demolition of Homes in Assam Sparks Concerns Over BJP’s Agenda

In the northeastern Indian state of Assam, where elections are underway, many Muslims remain skeptical about the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) outreach efforts. On March 14, bulldozers destroyed homes in Islampur, a predominantly Muslim neighborhood in Bongora, leaving 400 families homeless from 177 hectares of land.

Akram Ali, a 50-year-old Goriya Muslim, lost his four-room home to the demolition. “This was my home built over 45 years ago,” he said, referring to the ruins where his life once stood. Ali’s community is one of five recognized as Indigenous to Assam by the BJP.

The BJP has been reaching out to around 4 million Muslims in Assam ahead of the legislative assembly election, which is now underway. However, many Indigenous Muslims question whether this outreach offers any real protection from persecution. “Weren’t our homes demolished because we are Muslims?” Ali asked.

Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has repeatedly assured Indigenous Muslims that only Bengali-speaking Muslims are targeted by the government’s crackdown policies. However, he has also made it clear that the BJP does not need votes from Bengali-origin Muslims in the upcoming election.

The Assam BJP’s Vice President Aparaajitaa Bhuyan stated that the party is aiming to secure as many votes as possible from Indigenous Assamese Muslims. Meanwhile, Sarma has emphasized that his government will “never target” Indigenous Assamese Muslims with exclusionary policies.

According to recent census data, nearly 6.3 million Bengali-speaking Muslims live in Assam, while around 4 million are considered Indigenous to the land. The BJP’s efforts to reach out to these communities have sparked concerns about their treatment under the government.

Source: Al Jazeera