Why is Dispur not according an ‘identity’ to Indigenous Muslims?  

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The indigenous Muslims of Assam are scared of “fading into the woodwork” (becoming inconspicuous or disappearing) into the immigrant Muslim population in the State even though the indigenous Muslims have separate histories and identities of their own.

According to the 2011 Census report, Muslims (including the indigenous Muslims) in Assam comprise 34.2 per cent of the total population in the State. The moot question: What is the percentage of the indigenous Muslims of the State’s Muslim population? The indigenous Muslims of Assam are the Gorias, Morias, Deshis, Jalahas, Maimals and others.

Talking to The Sentinel on the issue, noted advocate Nekibur Zaman said, “The indigenous Muslims of the State feel that they’re under threat from immigrants Muslims who have outnumbered the local ones. How can we indentify ourselves as an indigenous community of Assam?

“We don’t have any boards that can recognize us. Other categories like the SCs, STs and OBCs have boards that issue them certificates. Taking this in account, we raised the demand for a survey of the indigenous Muslims of Assam in 2006. However, no government at Dispur paid any heed to the demand. The need for such a survey is all the more important now with the NRC update exercise and the process of according Constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people of Assam. During the NRC update, a large number of immigrant Muslims made it to the final citizenship list with the help of documents. However, around 1.50 lakh indigenous Muslims have failed to make it to the final NRC due to lack of documents.

“The documents accepted during the NRC update were based on a cut-off date. Now a similar situation is arising when it comes to according safeguards to the indigenous people of the State as well. If the indigenous people of the State are determined on the basis of a cut-off date, there’s the risk of a large number of immigrants getting indigenous status. Such a risk can be eliminated if the indigenousness of people is determined based on a definition. In their poll manifestos, the BJP in Assam had promised to conduct a survey of the indigenous Muslims in Assam and accord them the status of an ethnic group of the State. This, however, has not been a reality even today.”

Meanwhile, Assam Minority Development Board (AMDB) chairman Muminul Aowal said, “As the AMDB chief, I took steps for the survey of indigenous Muslims of the State. However, there are some hurdles which a board cannot overcome. I’ve had meetings with a number of indigenous Muslim bodies of the State. They all want an exclusive identity through an exclusive survey. We’ve met the Chief Minister for the survey, and he has given us the green signal. However, the notification to this effect is still to be a reality.”

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