The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been vocal in its stand on Muslims in Assam. The party, which has been labelled as a Hindu-Majoritarian party, has made it quite clear that it is all for the development of indigenous Muslims.
Earlier, the BJP, in their 2016 vision document for the assembly elections, had highlighted about “constructing Ajan Pir Kalakshetra (on the lines of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra) to showcase the rich socio-religious Islamic culture in Assam.”
At the same time, the party has been critical of the Miya community’s emancipation, especially in their demands to build a Char Chapori museum in Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.
On these lines, the state minister and senior BJP leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had stated a differentiation on the party’s approach. "Azan Pir and Miya Museum is different. Assamese Muslims fought with Lachit Barphukan (the Ahom general) against the Mughals. How can you compare Azan Pir with Congress MLA Sherman Ali?" Himanta Biswa Sarma had said in a press conference. He further stated that BJP is with Islam.
Another equation which both Sarma and the saffron party have made ahead of the polls is the 65-35 vote share calculation.
However, there is concern regarding what the BJP considers as 35. Is it just the Miya community also considered to be the original Muslim people from erstwhile East Bengal or does 35 mean the inclusion of Assamese Muslims?
G Plus spoke to BJP leader Sayed Mominul Aowal, who acknowledged that the BJP considers the communities of Deshi, Goria, Moria and Syed among others outside the 35%. "Goria, Moria communities are considered on the same lines with Ahom, Boro and other indigenous communities. As such, Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke about Ismail Siddique in his speech," said Aowal.
Ismail Siddique, also known as Bagh Hazarika, was famous for his valour and fought against the Mughals during the Battle of Saraighat. Politically evoking his name usually resonates to Assam's syncretic traditions, which emphasizes on being Assamese over any religious allegiance. The BJP has referred to him in recent times to demonstrate its ideology for Assamese Muslims.
Another point in the 2016 vision document is “protecting socio-economic and political identity of indigenous Assamese Muslims like Goriya, Moriya, Desi, Maimol and conducting academic research on their identity, language and culture.”
"Violence against the minorities has gone down after BJP came to power. BJP is trying to replicate Ahom's vision for Goria and Moria," Mominul Aowal added. He alleged that allegations of "anti-Islam" are fabrication of AIUDF and Congress as they are trying to gather the Muslim votes.
However, BJP’s own Minority Morcha President Mukhtar Hussain has contradictory views from their public stand. Mukhtar Hussain claims that the entire 35% can't be people from East Bengali origin as they consist of 27% of the population. "35% is just a calculation of people who will not vote for the BJP,” Ahmed told G Plus.
He revealed that the BJP has been the beneficiary of votes from the Char people. "The Char people already vote for BJP. Look at Barkhetry constituency," said Ahmed.
In Barkhetry, BJP MLA Narayan Deka, in 2016 Assembly polls, had received 69,223 votes, 9,000 votes (6%) more than the Congress candidate. Ahmed revealed that Deka's victory came with approximately 19,000 votes from Muslim candidates, out of which 5,000+ votes were from the Char Anchal, which has been crucial for his victory.
"Miya community already votes for us in the Panchayat elections in Chenga constituency in Barpeta. So to say that that the party is only for particular communities will be wrong," said Hussain.