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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Accused in journalist Gauri Lankesh murder case joins Shinde-led Sena in Jalna
Jalna (PTI): Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, which outraged the nation, joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Jalna ahead of assembly polls.
Lankesh was shot dead outside her home in Karnataka capital Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.
A probe by police in Karnataka with assistance from agencies in Maharashtra led to the arrest of several persons.
Pangarkar, a Jalna municipal councillor of the undivided Shiv Sena between 2001and 2006, was arrested in August 2018 and was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4 this year.
After he was denied a ticket by the Shiv Sena in 2011, Pangarkar joined the right-wing Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.
He joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Friday in the presence of party leader and former state minister Arjun Khotkar.
"Pangarkar is a former Shiv Sainik and has returned to the party. He has been nominated as the chief of the Jalna assembly poll campaign," Khotkar told reporters.
Khotkar also said he wants to contest the assembly poll from Jalna, but added seat sharing discussions in the Mahayuti (ruling alliance comprising Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP) were still underway.
The seat is held by Congress' Kailash Gorantyal.
Maharashtra assembly polls will be held on November 20, while results will be declared on November 23. The term of the current assembly ends on November 26.
