Adopt ‘Muslim marriage model’, AIUDF chief tells Hindus, sparks Assam protests | India News
GUWAHATI: Strong protests erupted across Assam against Lok Sabha MP and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal for his statement to news agency ANI on Friday, advising Hindus to adopt the “Muslim formula” of marrying early and producing many children to increase the population.
Ajmal’s remarks were seen as politically motivated with the Gujarat elections in mind because he spoke to a news agency exclusively in Hindi, not in Assamese or Bengali, and mocked Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Ajmal asked Sarma to indulge in ‘love jihad’ for his recent comments in Gujarat in reference to the murder of Shraddha Walker allegedly by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawalla.
“The CM is one of the top leaders of the country today. So, who is stopping him, you also carry out four to five ‘love jihad’ and take away our Muslim girls. We will welcome it and won’t even fight,” the AIUDF MP said. Sarma is yet to react to the statement.
After the backlash, Ajmal told reporters on Saturday: “If my words hurt anyone’s sentiments, I take back my words. I only want the government to do justice to minorities and give them education and employment.”
BJP asked the minority community to withdraw the ‘Maulana’ title from Ajmal, while opposition parties alleged his statement was a part of BJP’s strategy for the Gujarat polls. Assam cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said: “Ajmal is a political terrorist. His recent comment on ‘Muslim formula’ is utterly disgusting and awful.”
BJP legislator Diganta Kalita urged the minority community to stand up against Ajmal, saying people making such comments should be “socially and politically ostracised”.
Leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia said Ajmal’s statement was grossly derogatory towards women. Congress MP Abdul Khaleque pointed to a possible connection to the Gujarat polls. “Who knows this might be a part of a conspiracy to polarise votes in Gujarat. Otherwise, why has he not been arrested yet?”
Ajmal’s remarks were seen as politically motivated with the Gujarat elections in mind because he spoke to a news agency exclusively in Hindi, not in Assamese or Bengali, and mocked Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Ajmal asked Sarma to indulge in ‘love jihad’ for his recent comments in Gujarat in reference to the murder of Shraddha Walker allegedly by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawalla.
“The CM is one of the top leaders of the country today. So, who is stopping him, you also carry out four to five ‘love jihad’ and take away our Muslim girls. We will welcome it and won’t even fight,” the AIUDF MP said. Sarma is yet to react to the statement.
After the backlash, Ajmal told reporters on Saturday: “If my words hurt anyone’s sentiments, I take back my words. I only want the government to do justice to minorities and give them education and employment.”
BJP asked the minority community to withdraw the ‘Maulana’ title from Ajmal, while opposition parties alleged his statement was a part of BJP’s strategy for the Gujarat polls. Assam cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said: “Ajmal is a political terrorist. His recent comment on ‘Muslim formula’ is utterly disgusting and awful.”
BJP legislator Diganta Kalita urged the minority community to stand up against Ajmal, saying people making such comments should be “socially and politically ostracised”.
Leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia said Ajmal’s statement was grossly derogatory towards women. Congress MP Abdul Khaleque pointed to a possible connection to the Gujarat polls. “Who knows this might be a part of a conspiracy to polarise votes in Gujarat. Otherwise, why has he not been arrested yet?”