Muslims Can Attain Indigenous Status by Reclaiming Original Identity : Assam CM
Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that individuals who were compelled to convert to Islam during the Mughal era have the option to reclaim their "original identity" and qualify for indigenous status.
During a session in the state Assembly addressing his government's efforts to safeguard land rights of indigenous people, Sarma stated, "Islam didn’t arrive in India that early. But if you seek indigenous status based on the community before you were converted, then you will get the indigenous tag."
He further explained that landless migrant Muslims and Bengali-origin Muslims would not be eligible for land titles under Mission Basundhara, an initiative aimed at updating land records and providing land revenue services. Sarma clarified that the initiative, based on a 2019 policy, is reserved for landless "indigenous" people.
Sarma delineated, "Mission Basundhara is not for migrant Muslims...it is also not for Marwaris, Biharis or those who came from other states."
However, he assured that landless Muslims, including the Goriya and Moriya communities recognized as "indigenous" by the Assam government, could apply for land titles through the district commissioner.
The discussion in the Assembly also saw opposition Muslim MLAs expressing concerns over the exclusion of many Muslims from land allotment under Mission Basundhara. Despite around 13 lakh applications, only 2.5 lakh indigenous individuals were selected for land allotment.
Assam, with a Muslim population of 1.06 crore as per the 2011 Census, faces challenges in defining indigenous status. Efforts to establish a framework for determining indigenous identity have encountered obstacles.
The Assam Accord, signed in 1985, mandated the preservation of the cultural, social, and linguistic heritage of the Assamese people, yet the issue of defining indigenous identity remains unresolved.
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Vartha Bharati–Sankalp predictions align closely with Karnataka bypoll results
Bengaluru: The Vartha Bharati–Sankalp election analysis has shown a high level of accuracy in predicting the outcome of the recent Karnataka Assembly by-elections held in May 2026, correctly calling winners in both constituencies and closely estimating vote share trends.
The by-elections were held in Bagalkot and Davanagere South, drawing significant political attention as both seats were seen as key tests for the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.
According to the analysis, Vartha Bharati–Sankalp had made three major projections ahead of the results the winning party, vote share percentages, and margin of victory.
In both constituencies, the platform accurately predicted that the Congress would emerge victorious. The outcome matched the projections, with Congress candidates winning in Bagalkot and Davanagere South.
In terms of vote share, the predictions were largely in line with the final results. In Bagalkot, the BJP’s vote share was forecast in the range of 40 to 46 per cent, while the actual figure stood at 42.9 per cent. The Congress vote share, however, exceeded expectations, with the party securing 55.4 per cent against a projected range of 43 to 48 per cent.
The margin of victory in Bagalkot turned out to be significantly higher than anticipated. While the projection had placed the margin between 2,000 and 3,500 votes, the final margin was around 22,332 votes.
In Davanagere South, the predictions also remained largely accurate. The Congress vote share was projected between 43 and 51 per cent, and the final figure stood at 43.9 per cent. The BJP was expected to secure between 42 and 50 per cent but ended with 40.3 per cent.
The analysis had also identified the role of SDPI as a potential spoiler in the constituency. While its vote share was estimated around 6 per cent, the party eventually secured around 12 per cent of the vote.
The margin of victory in Davanagere South was predicted to be between 1,500 and 2,600 votes. The actual margin was higher at around 5,708 votes, though the contest remained relatively close as anticipated.
Overall, the performance of Vartha Bharati–Sankalp stood out for correctly identifying the winning parties in both seats and maintaining close accuracy in vote share estimates, with only limited deviations in specific cases.
