Amid evictions of Bengali-speaking Muslims, Assam launches scheme for arms licenses to 'original inhabitants'

Guwahati: Amid the eviction drives targeting the Bengali-speaking Muslims, the BJP-led government in Assam on Thursday launched a scheme to offer arms licenses to "original inhabitants" living in "remote and vulnerable" areas.

Launching a portal meant for the arms license in Guwahati, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said under the special scheme, original inhabitants of Assam, indigenous Indian citizens with a genuine threat to life and safety due to the vulnerability of the region in which he resides can apply for arms licenses.

The state Cabinet had approved the proposal for arms license on May 28.

Sarma said the licenses would be offered by following the norms under the Arms Act 1959 and the Arms Rules 2016. 

Timing raises questions

Although the demand to offer arms licenses is long, launching of the scheme amid eviction drives targeting the Bengali speaking Muslims raised many eyebrows. BJP insiders said the scheme was meant for indigenous residents living in areas where "Bangladesh-origin" Muslims are in majority. 

Defending the decision, Sarma recently said, "Arms are required for the Indian original inhabitants living in places like Mankachar and Dhubri, surrounded by hundreds of people belonging to a particular community." Sarma calls the Indian citizens living for three generations as original inhabitants.

According to BJP leaders, Sarma was referring to the Bengali-speaking Muslims, whom the saffron party considers as "illegal migrants" from neighbouring Bangladesh and a threat to the identity of the indigenous communities. Sarma said arms licenses were required for vulnerable sections in Dhubri, Goalpara, South Salmara, Mankachar, Morigaon and Nagaon districts, which are either Muslim-dominated or have sizable Muslim population.      

Sarma said the scheme reflected his government’s concern for the security of citizens living in "vulnerable and remote" areas due to "geographic and socio-political factors. "It has been observed that localized and micro-level security challenges sometimes demand lawful access to self-defence, especially for our original inhabitants and indigenous citizens. This special scheme would empower the citizens themselves from any covert and overt design of aggression on them." 

The CM said licenses would be granted after rigorous field-level security assessments, police verification, and the recommendation of the Senior Superintendent of Police in the district.

Congress opposes

Opposing the decision to offer arms licences, the Opposition Congress on Thursday said the scheme contradicted the state government's repeated appeals to various insurgent groups to give up weapons and join the peace process.

"We have failed to understand the need for giving weapons to the vulnerable citizens. If such a need has arisen in the state, that suggests the failure of the home department and the Chief Minister in maintaining law and order," Congress MLA and leader of the Opposition, Debabrata Saikia told reporters soon after Sarma launched the scheme.

"This may create violence and communal tension," Saikai said while demanding immediate scrapping of the scheme. Saikia said the state government denied him permission to stage a satyagraha on Friday aimed at registering protest against the decision.

• The scheme to give arms licenses was launched amid evictions against Bengali-speaking Muslims.

• The arms to be given under provisions of Arms Act 1959 and Arms Rules 2016.

• Assam CM Sarma calls the Indian citizens living for three generations as original inhabitants.

• he licences to be given after individual scrutiny, field level inputs and assessments by designated police and intelligence authorities.

• Congress says the scheme could lead to a communal conflict.