Pakistanism or Pakistanisation is a neologism that refers to the continual division of any society along religious lines. The campaigning for Assam elections 2021 seems well on course to follow the above-mentioned process as the politicos of the state are leaving no stone unturned to raise issues having religious connotations.
If whatever the saffron brigade has alleged regarding the slogans raised at the Silchar Airport when the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal arrived for a 4-day visit on 5th November last is to be believed, it seems the supporters were shouting “Pakistan Zindabad.”
But if the version of the AIUDF is to be believed, it seems there was some misunderstanding as the supporters were shouting “Aziz Khan Zindabad” and the same was heard and interpreted as “Pakistan Zindabad.” Well, now who will confirm whether it was “Pakistan Zindabad” or “Aziz Khan Zindabad?” For the record, Aziz Khan is the local MLA of Karimganj South constituency from the AIUDF.
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The Silchar police received complaints from Hindu organisations and they have even registered a case but the complaint was received on 6th November and the incident happened at around 2 pm on 5th November.
Talking to G Plus, a senior police official of Silchar Police said, “We are investigating the matter and if anti-national slogans were raised, strict action would be taken against the culprits.” On enquiring whether the assembled crowd was shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” or “Aziz Khan Zindabad,” the official said, “We are investigating and can’t surely say what exactly the slogan was now.” Well, the police always require time for investigation.
A resident of Kumbhirgram who was near the airport during the incident, talking to G Plus said, “Around 300 vehicles had arrived to receive Badruddin Ajmal and many slogans were raised, mostly praising Ajmal. I am not sure if the ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan was raised at the airport.”
Refuting all allegations, the AIUDF slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that the BJP government has been intentionally trying to provoke the people of Assam by raising such issues.
The AIUDF general secretary, Aminul Islam, said that the AIUDF supremo was in Silchar for political meetings and accordingly many political personalities were there at the airport raising various Zindabad slogans. “They had raised ‘Badruddin Ajmal Zindabad’ slogans and when the supporters raised the ‘Aziz Khan Zindabad’ slogan, a private satellite channel allegedly made news out of it stating that ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans were raised at the Silchar Airport. This is a distorted video, hence we demand a probe into the matter,” said Islam.
Meanwhile, many BJP state leaders were seen raising the issue in their tweets and alleging that “Pakistan Zindabad” was shouted.
At a time when Maharashtra Police is being blamed for being biased towards the ruling government, how objective the Assam Police remains a question. And whatever was the slogan that was raised, it seems apparent that polarization and division on religious lines will be the main strategy in the Assam elections 2021 by almost all political parties.