People are afraid, Muslims should assure us, allay our fears: Assam CM
Guwahati: Amid reckless communal hatred being spread across the country, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that Muslims cannot be considered a minority in the state, since they constitute 35 percent of Assam’s population.
Referring to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, he said “it is the duty of Muslims in the state to allay fears of other communities”.
Speaking on the occasion of the Governor’s address in the budget session of the northeastern state’s assembly, Sarma said, “Today people from Muslim community are leaders in opposition, MLAs and have equal opportunity and wield power. So, it is their duty to ensure that the rights of tribal people are protected and their lands are not encroached upon. There is no need to encroach on the lands of tribals residing in the sixth schedule area. If Bora and Kalita (Assamese surnames) have not settled on those land, Islam and Rahman (Muslim surnames) must also refrain from settling in those lands.”
Moreover, he said that “Power comes with responsibility. As Muslims constitute 35% of Assam’s population, it is their duty to protect the minorities here,” he added.
“The Assamese people are under fear. Harmony is two-way traffic. Let Muslims talk about the protection of Sanskari culture, Sattriya culture…there will be harmony. Ten years back, we were not minorities but now we are,” said Assam Chief Minister.
Comparing the Hindus of the state to the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus, Sarma said, “People ask me if Assamese will face the same fate as Kashmiri Pandits. It is the duty of Muslims to allay our fear. Muslims must behave like a majority and give us assurance that there will be no repeat of Kashmir here.”
This response comes amidst Sarma’s promotion of Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘Kashmir Files’ which several BJP leaders including the Prime Minister have been publicizing. It has also been exempted from entertainment tax in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
The Assam CM not only watched this movie on Tuesday with his cabinet colleagues but also declared that the state government employees can avail themselves of a half-day leave to watch the film.
Further, he said that he has requested the Muslim community to be partners in the development of the state.
“With 35% population, Muslims are in a way the largest community. So, I had appealed to them that they should take the responsibility of maintaining communal harmony,” the statement said.
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Chhattisgarh: Couple, two grandchildren killed over 'property' dispute; two relatives held
Janjgir (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): An elderly couple and their two grandchildren were allegedly murdered by two close relatives to grab family property in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district, police said on Thursday.
The couple’s one son, who had earlier spent 15 years in jail for killing his own brother, and his son have been taken into custody in connection with the murders, an official said.
The bodies were found inside their under-construction house in Bhanvtara village under the jurisdiction of the Shivrinarayan police station after labourers reached the site for work in the morning, a senior police official said.
The deceased were identified as Medani Prasad Kashyap (70), his wife Kanti Bai (65), their grandchildren Pitambar Kashyap (17) and Mogra (25).
The deceased couple’s son, Sonsai, and his son Dakeshwar have been taken into custody in connection with the murders, the official said.
According to the preliminary investigation, Medani Prasad had three sons, including Sonsai. Police said Sonsai had murdered one of his brothers in the past and had served a 15-year jail term in the case, while the couple’s third son had reportedly died by suicide.
Sonsai and his son Dakeshwar, alias Golu, allegedly killed his parents and the children of his two deceased brothers with an axe while they were asleep in the under-construction house, he said.
Pitambar was the only son of one deceased brother, while Mogra was the only daughter of another, the official said.
The accused allegedly wanted sole ownership of the family property and are suspected of having committed the crime to eliminate other claimants, police said.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway, the official added.
