Conspiracy on to declare 4.2 million Assam Muslims Bangladeshis: AIUDF leader

An All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader has alleged a conspiracy is on to stamp over 4.2 million Muslims living in the Indian state of Assam as Bangladeshis in the guise of the National Register of Citizen (NRC) update.

AIUDF leader and legislator Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Qasimi made the allegation while addressing a public meeting in the Katigora constituency in southern Assam's Barak Valley on Tuesday.

But questions are also being raised about the party’s integrity which, a section of the people allege, has done little to foil that attempt.

Qasimi, it is said, had not raised the issue with such precise figures when the modalities of the NRC revision were being debated in the State Assembly.

One perception is that the party leaders are making the claim with an eye on the minority vote bank since the election to the Assam state Assembly is just about five months away.

He appealed the people to be alert in order to thwart the design.

AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal was also present at the meeting.

Ajmal, who is working on a strategy to form an anti-BJP government in Assam, said the AIUDF will fight the assembly election alone.

He predicted the Congress will be voted out of power in the state in 2016, but stopped short of making any remark about Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

But he criticised Prime Minster Narendra Modi, saying he was yet to fulfil any of his pre-polls promises.

In another development, Assam Governor PB Acharya said, "The National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam is to be updated, but people fear the job will not be completed by this December, and foreigners will be able to cast their votes in the coming election.”

He clarified his earlier remark in which he was quoted as saying that India belonged to Hindus.

"Hindus who are persecuted in Bangladesh are refugees and they have no place to go other than India. I did not say this country belongs to Hindus,” Acharya said, alleging the press had distorted his remark.

The central government had earlier announced that Bangladeshi refugees would be given citizenship in India.

When asked why Bangladeshi Muslims were being denied the privilege, the governor said they were infiltrators, as Muslims had not been persecuted in Bangladesh.

He, however, added Bangladeshi Muslims, too, had a right to come if they faced persecution in their country.

“But why would they come when they are not persecuted? They have two places to go - they can come to India or go to Pakistan,” he reasoned.

"They (Bangladeshi Muslims) can come and work here if they get work permit, but they would not get political rights," he said.

The governor’s views have been vehemently protested by the Congress and other organisations, with many demanding his removal.