Guwahati: Congress and its divisive politics are not new to the people of Assam. This time congress has gone one step ahead by demanding OBC status for the migrant Muslims in Assam. Congress MP from Barpeta Abdul Khalek has submitted a written application to the social justice ministry demanding OBC status for the Muslims living in the 'Char' (riverine) areas of Assam. In a letter to the union minister for social justice Virendra Kumar, MP Abdul Khalek demanded the inclusion of Muslim people residing in the riverine areas into the OBC list. It should be mentioned that most of the Hindu people residing in the riverine areas of Assam fall under ST or SC category. Congress demands OBC status for other people living in the riverine areas which are mainly migrant Muslims.
The state Congress has not denied the demand of their MP. Working president of Assam Pradesh Congress Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said that the matter should be discussed in the state assembly. He further said that if the grant of OBC status can uplift these people's lives then the government should think about it. MP Abdul Khalek once demanded refugee status for Rohingya in Assam when he was an MLA from 2016 to 2019. The ruling BJP opposed the dirty divisive politics of the Congress party. BJP spokesperson Pabitra Margherita told Organiser that OBC status can't be given on the basis of religion. It is a special status given by the constitution of India to the underprivileged communities of the country. By demanding OBC status to the migrant Muslims, the Congress party has challenged the rights and privileges of the indigenous community of Assam who falls under the OBC category. Margherita further added that the Congress party always wants to snatch the rights of the indigenous people by appeasing the Muslims. The migrant Muslim population is now the majority population in the state and they have become a threat to the identity of the indigenous people. By demanding OBC status for them, Congress wants to end the Indian people and their identity.
Alliance partner of ruling NDA Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) clearly opposed the demand made by the Congress party. AGP spokesperson Dr. Tapan Das said, Congress has been doing vote bank politics with the migrant Muslims and doubtful citizens. They are trying to appease the migrant Muslim voters eying on the 2024 Look Sabha election. The party is always against the indigenous people. The rise of Badaruddin Ajmal led AIUDF made the Congress party alarmed. So they are up to some illogical demands. Reacting on the issue, BJP MLA Mrinal Saikia said that if the Congress party comes to power, they will probably grant ST, SC status to the migrant Muslims. People should identify the true character of the Congress party, he added.
