Assam: Are BJP and AIDUF’s Badaruddin Ajmal ‘Colluding’ to Propel Divisive Politics?

The delimitation draft, the politics surrounding the Opposition’s ‘Gogois’ and sharp, divisive statements engulf Assam's political sky. Such a political atmosphere portends further societal polarisation as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach.

This time, the divisive trump card is being used by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (HBS). But, AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) chief and Lok Sabha MP Badaruddin Ajmal is not far behind, adding fuel to the fire. The Opposition in Assam and civil society have reacted to both, alleging they are hand in glove in their political ploy of polarisation.

The Chronology

The draft delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary seats in Assam was published by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on June 20. Thereafter, widespread discontent among different organisations, political parties and citizens of the state erupted. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP0 government of Assam had to face united protests.

At a protest meeting against the draft in Amguri, Sivasagar district early this month, Congress Kaliabor Lok Sabha member Gaurav Gogoi, Sivasagar independent MLA Akhil Gogoi and AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi appeared hand in hand, triggering some frivolous comments made by some state BJP leaders, including ministers Ranjit Kumar Dass and Pijush Hazarika.

The protest meeting, comprising 12 Opposition parties, including the CPI (Communist Party of India) and CPI(M) ((Communist Party of India (Marxist)), appeared to have disturbed the BJP, especially in Upper Assam.

Several BJP leaders, including Sarma, made adverse comments in a bid to convince people that the united Opposition protest against delimitation would not affect the party's position in Assam.

On the other side, the BJP's damage mitigation measures demonstrated that it doesn't want to lose Ahom votes. The Ahom community, a prominent force in Upper Assam politics, is angry with the vanishing of the Amguri and Lahowal Assembly constituencies and redrawing of the Sivasagar constituency.

It here that Ajmal came into the picture. While addressing the public at Bhasanir Char ('char' is a sandbar in Assamese), Ajmal, opposing the UCC (Uniform Civil Code), said that if it is uniform, then everything has to be uniform.

"The meat we, the Muslims, eat will have to be consumed by everyone, including the CM and the PM. Will that happen?" Ajmal said in his address at Dhubri. He furthered his opposition to the UCC with such frivolous comments, like, "You wear a saree, and now we all will wear one because everything is uniform? Will you accept it?"

But these comments were not enough to ignite the deepest fault line of Assam, that is, the Assamese (Asomiya) and the Muslims of East Bengal origin. Ajmal, after the public address, commented in media that Assam was incomplete without Miya (the East Bengal origin migrant Muslims), adding that the word Asomiya (the Assamese) is a combination of Asom and Miya, to justify his statement, which is regarded as a sheer distortion of facts.

Notably, Ajmal was seen attacking former CM, late Tarun Gogoi of the Congress, in his entire speech, blaming him for the sufferings of East Bengal-origin Muslims, be it evictions, NRC (National Register of Citizens) among others.

In one of his comments, he said, "All these are due to Tarun Gogoi. He settled our people, and now they are being evicted. Why are they being evicted? Had Gogoi given permanent land ownership to our people, no one could have evicted them. Who started the NRC or the D-voter or border police?"

On the same day, Sarma appeared more combative when he commented in the media while reacting to Ajmal's comments.

"If youths come out from Upper Assam, then I will clean the Miyas from Guwahati and snatch all economic control from them," said the CM.

"The Assamese people should react to Ajmal's statement, they should come out to participate in all economic activities, like agriculture, cab drivers, bus driver and others to help me clean away the Miyas," said Sarma.

However, he said that we (the Assamese) would have to do it with work, not by physically fighting them. But, Sarma could not escape criticism, not only form Opposition political leaders, but also from civil society..

After Sarma, a series of such divisive statements were made by BJP MLAs and ministers, which included Diganta Kalita (MLA, Kamalpur), Pijush Hazarika (cabinet Minister) and Assam BJP president and Rangia MLA Bhabesh Kalita.

Opposition Leaders Allege Collusion

With neighbouring Manipur facing ethnic violence for over two months, does Assam fear a similar situation in the near future? This question is worrying many. Fortunately, there are no visible signs as of now, despite BJP and AUDF leaders busy with their polarising tactics. In fact, the Opposition is seen as combating it aggressively, be it countering Sarma and Ajmal or filing FIRs against them.

The president of APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) Bhupen Borah, told NewsClick, "CM Sarma says BJP does not need Muslim votes. He wants to ensure that AIUDF secures the Muslim votes. The BJP needs Hindu votes, and AIUDF needs Muslim votes. But, the votes from both Hindus and Muslims will be cast for a secular party only. Sarma and Ajmal don't want this. But, this will not happen easily in Assam.”

Amid the buzz that Ajmal would lose the Dhubri Loka Sabha seat to Congress, Borah said if Ajmal loses, he will have no future, indicating that the challenge the AIUDF leaer is likely to face this time in his seat.

"That is one of the reasons why Sarma is trying his best to save Ajmal from losing an election," he alleged.

Borah also mentioned the viral interview of Sarma with Lallantop during the election campaign of 2021, where he said that Ajmal wanted to see him as the CM, adding that he had a good rapport with Ajmal. Sarma also said that if he asked Ajmal, he would support him, and in every Rajya Sabha election, he managed a few votes for Ajmal.

Borah further recalled a circular from the CMO in July 2021 after Sarma took charge where all the SPs (Superintendent of Police) and DFOs (District Forest Officers) were instructed not to obstruct any person or any vehicle carrying agaru unless there was evidence of these being taken from forest areas.

Ajmal is a perfume doyen, and the agaru trees are the main component of perfume-making. Borah said that all these previous instances and the timing of Sarma and Ajmal diving into divisive politics now, “exemplify their nefarious nexus.”

Axom Nagarik Samaj general Secretary Paresh Malakar, speaking to NewsClick on the issue, said, "Obviously Ajmal and HBS are complementing each other, and their divisive politics has sharpened at the time when the election is approaching. Also, their popularity has drastically gone down."

"But thanks to the people of Assam for not responding to their provocation," he said, adding that these divisive tactics had a shelf-life.

"There is no evidence of continuing migration from Bangladesh, and the people of Assam have learnt, since the aftermath of the Assam movement, how to co-exist in the society. However, this kind of politics resurfaces time and again, and we must resist them. Even after so much provocation, the people's calmness is good, but it's important to remember that a spark can burn a whole town, so we need to be vigilant. Because we have seen what has happened in Manipur," he added.

CPI(M) Lodges Police Complaint Against Sarma and Ajmal

On July 17, CPI(M) lodged a police complaint at the Latasil police station of Guwahati. The complaint letter urged that the police apply appropriate sections of the IPC against Sarma and Ajmal. The complaint also mentions the Supreme Court's direction in case of hate speech where the perpetrator may attract sections 153A, 153B, 295A and 505 of the IPC.

The complaint was signed by Suprakash Talukdar, state general secretary and Isfaqur Rahman, central committee member of CPI(M).

Speaking to NewsClick, Talukdar agreed that Sarma and Ajmal complement each other.

"Assam CM is leading the polarisation focusing on East Bengal origin Muslims, and Ajmal is adding fuel to the fire. What Himanta Biswa said is something that cannot be expected from a chief minister. How can a CM attempt to ignite hatred against two communities?", he said.

Referring to incidents in Manipur, Talukdar said, "Himanta Biswa is the head of the NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance), and now, when Manipur has gone beyond control, the BJP can't do anything. PM Modi can go everywhere on earth but does not dare to visit Manipur. They ignite the fire and later disperse from the spot when it engulfs everyone.”

CPI(M)s FIR against Sarma and Ajmal at Latasil Police Station, Guwahati.

On the same day, there was another FIR lodged by the Opposition MP of Rajya Sabha, Ajit Bhuyan, against Assam CM. He lodged the FIR at the Dispur police station. Bhuyan’s FIR also mentioned sections 153 and 295 of the IPC.