JOIN USThe BJP which fought the Assam Assembly polls with its promise to drive away illegal migrants from Bangladesh if voted to power in Assam is now pulling up its socks to strengthen its minority base.
On Wednesday, the party promised to make Assam a model state for minority development in the country if it comes to power. The Assembly election results will be declared on May 19.
Assam has the second highest Muslim population after Jammu and Kashmir. Muslims made 34% of the total 3.12 crore people in Assam. The lion share is that of the Bengali speaking Muslims of lower and central Assam, who are often branded as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.
The two-phased election in Assam did see the top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues and party national president Amit Shah campaign against illegal migrants and asked voters to form a government of the indigenous.
Plan of action
The BJP is now looking forward to bringing ‘genuine’ Bengali speaking Muslim to its fold now. The party’s minority morcha national president Abdul Rashid Ansari on Wednesday met different Muslim organisations in Guwahati.
“We do not want people from minority to continue doing odd jobs, there must be overall development. Our first task will be to plug the leakage of funds meant for minorities. Assam has seen rampant leakage of funds,” Ansari told reporters in Guwahati.
BJP in its vision document for Assam polls has promised protection of culture of the indigenous Muslims in Assam, party sources added.