Assam’s minority certificate plan triggers fear of divisive politics

Some non-Muslim communities welcome the move but diverse Muslim groups say it will drive a wedge between Assamese and Bengali speakers

The Assam government’s plan announced in March to provide minority certificates to six communities has caused disquiet among certain groups while raising hope among others. While several “indigenous” and Bengali-origin Muslim forums see in it a divisive ploy on the part of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government, some non-Muslim communities have welcomed it as a step that could help them being “finally counted as minorities”.

The fears primarily emanate from the Chief Minister’s statement about redefining minorities district-wise, “depending upon the geography, population and threat perception”. Mr. Sarma in March called Muslims a majority community, and has often cited examples such as of the scene in western Assam’s South Salmara district to buttress the point that Hindus are a minority in several districts.

The government has, however, not spelt out yet if the status of a minority community would get affected if it is the dominant community in terms of numbers in a certain district.

Deepening the confusion, the Chief Minister on Wednesday said the State Cabinet will decide by August 15 a separate classification for indigenous minorities, including Muslims, who have not migrated from other places. There again, he did not clarify whether the non-indigenous minorities will continue to get the minority benefits once this new classification is made.

The six communities to be issued minority certificates are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. According to the 2011 Census, Hindus account for 61.47% of Assam’s total population and Muslims 34.22%. Christians constitute 3.74% while the percentage of Buddhists, Sikhs and Jain is less than 1%. The State hardly has any Parsis.

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) sniffed a design to go beyond the Hindu-Muslim divide and drive a wedge within a religion behind the certificate move. The party, headed by perfume baron and MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, is seen as one that caters to the Bengali-speaking or Bengal-origin Muslims.

“What is the need for a certificate when the Constitution of India has already given minority status to these [six] communities?” said AIUDF general secretary and MLA Aminul Islam.