Assam Congress set to expel rebel MLA Sherman

GUWAHATI: Congress is all set to expel its rebel MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed, who was arrested last year after he called the martyrs of the anti-foreigners’ movement (Assam agitation) ‘ghataks’ (assassins), following the Dholpur eviction in lower Assam’s Darrang district where hundreds of migrant Muslims were evicted by the administration to free government lands of settlers.
Sherman is currently under suspension and has been accusing the party leadership in Assam of failing to raise its voice in support of the migrant Muslims, known as Miyas, who have been residing for years in the vast riverine and adjoining areas in lower Assam districts. In the reply handed over to Assam PCC president Bhupen Borah on Tuesday, the MLA highlighted this issue.
The state PCC on Wednesday dissolved all committees of the party in Baghbar represented by Sherman in minority-inhabited Barpeta district, which has still not come under saffron domination. The Sherman episode may have a big impact on minority areas, where Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF has already emerged as a strong political force, defeating the Congress in several seats. The AIUDF may even welcome Sherman to come on board, but the Congress is not ready to compromise with rebels.
"Sherman's reply has been sent to the one-man disciplinary action committee, which is headed by Bharat Chandra Narah. We will take the final decision after getting the report. But all organizational committees in Baghbar, including those at the block and booth level, have been dissolved to revamp the party there," Borah told TOI.
Congress sources said a strong message has been sent to party workers and leaders that the grand old party won't tolerate anyone who gives "least priority" to organizational work. A Congress insider said that the ongoing membership drive of the party had targeted enrolling 25,000 new members in Baghbar constituency, but there was no urgency among those responsible to carry out the task.
Sherman on Wednesday told the media, “They have been living here for over a century. I was warned by the Congress that I cannot speak for the minorities. The Congress should clarify its stand on whether it wants the culture of Miyas to be preserved in Kalakshetra.” Their (migrant Muslims) ancestors came from the Bengal Province (present day Bangladesh).
Since 2020, Sherman has been at loggerheads with the Congress over this issue of preserving the Miya culture at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra here. The grand cultural complex epitomising the state’s culture was set up under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord of 1985 promising “constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people”.
Sherman argues that the views of the Congress are not in consonance with the provisions of the accord.