The BJP government of the state recently decided to grant “indigenous status” to five Muslim communities. The two main opposition parties in Assam, the Congress and AIUDF, see this as a ploy to divide and divert. Although the legal implications of this position are not yet clear, there has been discussion of including all indigenous people living in the state, noting the need for development.
The Goria, Moria, Jolah (only those residing on tea estates), Desi, and Syed are the Muslim groups that the government of Himanta Biswa Sarma has designated as indigenous (only Assamese-speaking). Although these communities make up a minor portion of the state’s population and are referred to as “Khilonjia” in Assamese to indicate that they are “natives of the state,” language identification is important.
According to the most recent census (2011), Muslims make up more than 35% of Assam’s 3.12 crore residents, but this percentage may approximately be divided into two groups: Bengali-speaking 31% and Assamese 4%. In Assam, the BJP frequently refers to Bengali-speaking Muslims as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in its political rhetoric.
Political observers claim that the BJP, which is also the government at the federal level, is attempting to win over Muslims who speak Assamese because it recognises them as a potential voting bloc in the country’s diverse cultural landscape.
“This is all to divert attention from the miseries faced by people due to prolonged floods,” said Congress MLA Rockybul Hussain, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the assembly.
“Let’s define who is ‘indigenous’ in Assam; and let all such communities be given the status together. We’ll not say anything then,” he added.
