Assam’s indigenous Muslims back BJP: Himanta

Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said members of Assam’s indigenous Muslim community have extended full support to BJP and even contributed to the party’s election fund.Addressing a gathering at Rangoli Pathar in Naharkatia, Sarma said, “Our indigenous Muslim community fully supports BJP in Assam, and we have witnessed the same here. Members of this community have contributed ₹11,000 to the party’s election fund for which I thank them from the bottom of my heart.” He later told the media that the donation came during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims observe fasting and prayers. “This is the month of Ramadan, and everyone is observing fasts. I hope everyone prays and blesses BJP,” Sarma added.The remarks came amid heightened political activity in Assam ahead of the assembly polls.Four years back, the state cabinet formally recognized around 40 lakh Assamese-speaking Muslims — Goria, Moria, Jolah (tea garden workers), Desi and Syed — as “indigenous Assamese Muslims,” a sub-group of the greater native Assamese community.The move distinguishes native Muslims from Bangladesh-origin immigrant Muslims, who form the majority of the state’s Muslim population.Assam has the largest Muslim population among all states, with Muslims comprising over 34% of the state’s population (2011 Census). Of these, about 37% are indigenous Assamese-speaking Muslims and the rest Bangladesh-origin immigrants.