Author: A Staff Reporter
Publication: Assam Tribune
Date: April 4, 2005
URL: http://www.assamtribune.com/apr0405/main.html
The Jamiat chief Maulana Asad Madani
today gave the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government a six-month deadline
to get serious about serving the interest of the minorities in Assam. He
revealed his intent to topple the government if it failed to solve the
problems besetting the minorities by that time. Madani criticised the present
State government for its alleged failure in protecting the interests of
the minorities and cited several instances, which, in his view, were causing
undue harassment to the minorities. Demanding that the government should
issue land pattas to them living in the riverine areas, he also called
for giving citizenship cards to them.
He warned that the Jamiat would
even ban the entry of Congress workers to their areas if the government
failed to initiate development activities for the minorities on a priority
basis. Significantly, Madani made his remarks while the Chief Minister
was sharing the dais with him in the general session of the Assam State
Jamiat Ulama, held at the Sonaram school field today.
Tarun Gogoi, who had to endure the
verbal assault of the Jamiat leader, sought to put up a brave front, and
countered that his government had done much for the uplift of the minorities.
He referred to certain data to bolster his claim that his government had
done much more for the minorities than any previous government.
Admitting that there was much more
yet to be done for the minorities, Gogoi said that he was not afraid of
any threat or deadline, because he harboured no personal ambition to stay
put as the Chief Minister. He said that he would be content to serve the
people in any capacity that came his way.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion,
the Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh said that the cause of the motherland
was more important than any religious consideration, and therefore the
progress of the motherland should be the prime concern. He added that India
was great by virtue of so many religions co-existing side by side.
In today's general session, the
Assam State Jamiat Ulama (ASJU) passed a series of resolutions, including
a strong defence of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act,
and demanded its extension to the entire country. It also called for March
25, 1971 to be accepted as the base year for identification of foreigners
as per the arrangement of the Assam Accord.
In the well-attended meet, several
speakers spoke about the issues confronting the Muslim population of the
State. The organisation also called for reservations of jobs in government
institutions as well as academic institutions reflecting the population
pattern.
The issue of relief to victims of
ethnic conflict was raised in the session, and several speakers pointed
out the poor plight of those who had been made homeless and living without
relief. The ASJU criticised the government for its lacklustre attitude
in treating this issue.
Referring to the perennial flood
problem of the State, the organisation demanded that it should be declared
as a National Problem. It also underlined the need for a permanent solution
to floods and erosion, which have devastated large tracts of the Brahmaputra
and Barak valleys.
Today's meeting also resented the
"misguided policies" of the State Government, which led certain ethnic
groups into demanding "different economic and political rights." While
the ASJU was never opposed to autonomy for the groups, it did not accept
the non-representation of Muslims in such councils. The ASJU pointed out
the formation of the BTAD as a "glaring example of this apathy towards
the religious minority."
