DIVIDE AND RULE?

ASSAM

- Kaushik Deka

GAME PLAN

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma (in brown) meets members from the state’s Muslim community, June 28

On July 4, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had an expansive meeting with 150 or so Muslims from various walks of life, on what he describes as “the community’s socio-economic issues”. At the end of the meeting, Sarma announced the formation of eight sub-groups, consisting of ‘indigenous’ Muslims only—on population stabilisation, cultural identity, political inclusion, financial inclusion, health, education, skill development and women’s empowerment—to address said issues. The committees have three months to come up with their recommendations, which will reportedly form the basis of a new roadmap for the next five years.

Sarma’s meeting, and its declared intent, have been received with scepticism in some quarters and guarded enthusiasm in others. The terms of reference do suggest that the so-called socio-economic issues—such as the politically charged one of population control—are somehow endemic to Muslims. There is also an attempt to make a distinction between the so-called ‘indigenous’ Muslims and immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh—another politically charged issue. Asked what he made of all this, Wasim Ahmed, CEO of FM channel Gup Chup, who was present at the meeting, was guarded: “If it is not politically motivated, then it’s a step in the right direction. It is the constitutional obligation of any government to work for the overall development and uplift of every citizen in the state, irrespective of religion.”