Guwahati: Assam’s ruling Congress, BJP and regional party AGP on Saturday slammed perfume businessman and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal for his comment that all Muslims in Assam should come together to fight for their existence as Hindu votes have been polarised after Narendra Modi became the prime minister.
All three parties condemned the All India United Democratic Front leader, and warned him against hatching a conspiracy to divide the people of Assam on communal lines.
Ajmal on Friday appealed to all Muslims in Assam to come together to fight for their existence on grounds that Hindu votes have been polarised after Modi came to power.
The AIUDF president went to the extent of saying that the Congress was behind the demolition of the Babri Masjid and alleged that both the Congress and the BJP were resorting to communalism.
BJP Lok Sabha member Bijoya Chakraborty termed Ajmal’s statement an attempt to hatch a conspiracy to create communal riots between Hindus and Muslims, and demanded his immediate arrest.
“He (Ajmal) has prepared a blueprint for communal violence between Hindus and Muslims ahead of the elections in Assam. But he must remember that Assam is known for its secular image.
Chakraborty said that the state police chief had in the past said efforts were on in the social media to unite the Muslims and ask them to join the Islamic State terror outfit.
“I suspect if Ajmal is playing a role here. He is uniting the Muslims against the Hindus,” said Chakraborty, while appealing to the Congress government in Assam to take serious note of the issue.
The Congress also condemned Ajmal’s statement, saying it might lead to tension among different communities living in Assam.
“Ajmal’s statement is against the secular spirit of the country. It seems that by the statement, Ajmal is trying to divide the people of Assam on communal lines,” said Ripun Bora, vice president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
“Ajmal has intentionally made such kind of a communal statement as he is aware of the situation in Assam.”
Bora said Ajmal’s statement “exposes the tacit understanding between the AIUDF and BJP.
“The BJP is a sinking ship at this moment and so Ajmal wanted to polarise the Hindu and Muslim votes for the benefit of the AIUDF and the BJP,” he said.
Asom Gana Parishad general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita also condemned Ajmal’s statement, saying it was aimed at dividing the people of Assam ahead of the polls.
“People of Assam have been living peacefully irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The AIUDF wants to take political mileage ahead of the polls. The people of Assam would stand united against such an evil conspiracy,” Kalita said.