By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Brushing aside chance of any future alliance with Congress in the state, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal, who have been re-elected as the president of the Assam Jamiat Ulema on Friday, blamed chief minister Tarun Gogoi for the deplorable condition of the minorities in the state.
“Tarun Gogoi has not done 10 per cent of work for the uplift of minority communities of the state. Much of the money around Rs 200 crore which had been earmarked for the development of the minority community in the state have been returned to the centre for non-utilisation,” Ajmal said while talking to reporter at the sidelines of Jamiat Ulema election.
Badruddin Ajmal addressing media in Guwahati
Speculation were ripe in political circles in the state that AIUDF and Congress might reach a tactic understanding to stall the growth of BJP in the state in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
However, the tone and tenor of Ajmal on the issue of partnership suggested that till now no consensus has been reached between the two parties.
“Narendra Modi is the face of communal politics in India. AIUDF will work strongly against the communal forces not on in the state but in centre also,” Ajmal added.
Ajmal, however, appreciated the move of CM Tarun Gogoi for his move to take stock of the situation of the road accident in which 31 people died and announcing helping hand for the victims on the other day.
“I thank the chief minister for visiting the accident site at Sarbhog in Barpeta. We demand that instead of Rs. 50 thousand, Rs 5 lakh should be given to the deceased,” Ajmal said.
In fact, Assam unit of Jamiat which has more than 13 lakh membership will submit a memorandum to the central government will include 16 points concerning the issues afflict the minority community in the state.
Though Jamiat is a non-political body, the importance of the organization in minority politics is immense. “Jamiat works for the welfare of the minorities in the state. We don’t have any political affiliation, however, we maintain that in politics only secular parties should be voted to power,” Ajmal said.
On the future plans of the all important Jamiat in a state inflicted by communal strife, Ajmal revealed that Muslim minorities in the state has been subjected to immense torture and humiliation in the name of mistaken identity (illegal immigrants from Bangaldesh).
“We welcome the move of the Union Home Minister Sushilkumer Shinde so that no Muslim youth is harassed. I think this is more applicable in Assam than anywhere else in the country. We also don’t want any illegal Bangladeshi citizen to be here but it does not mean that legal Indian citizens should be harassed just because he or she is a Muslim,” he added.