Lagatar24 Desk
Guwahati: The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has called for a 10% reservation for Muslims in Assam, citing the community’s economic and social backwardness. AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, speaking on Tuesday, emphasized the need for increased representation of Muslims in government jobs and access to other government schemes within the state.
“Muslims in Assam are part of an economically weaker section, and there is a pressing need for 10% reservation for them in government employment and various schemes,” Islam stated.
Addressing concerns about population data, Islam disputed figures presented by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the Muslim population in the state. “The Muslim population in Assam has indeed grown, but not to the extent suggested by the Chief Minister. According to the 2011 Census, Muslims made up 34% of the state’s population, and this may have increased by 2-3%. However, the figures provided by the Chief Minister are inaccurate,” he claimed.
The AIUDF MLA also brought attention to the recent Dhing gang rape case and criticized the Assam government for selectively highlighting cases where the accused are Muslims. “There have been nearly 300 rape cases in Assam recently, yet the Chief Minister has only focused on 23-24 incidents where Muslims are the accused. This selective approach is concerning,” Islam added.
He further accused the state government of covering up facts related to the Dhing gang rape incident, in which one of the accused was reportedly killed. “Had the accused been alive, more facts could have emerged, possibly implicating non-Muslim individuals as well. We demand that the rapist be brought to justice, and we strongly condemn such heinous crimes,” Islam stated.
The Dhing gang rape incident occurred on August 22 in Assam’s Nagaon district, where a minor girl was allegedly gang-raped while returning home from tuition. The girl was found in a semi-conscious state by locals and was immediately taken to a hospital. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
This incident has sparked outrage, coming on the heels of the murder and alleged sexual assault of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
