Guwahati, 15 July: In a recent statement, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, the chief of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and a member of parliament from Dhubri, issued a fresh challenge to Assamese youths, urging them to compete with people from the “Miya” clan in farming. Ajmal expressed his willingness to welcome Assamese youths who take up the challenge but emphasized the need for hard work.
During a media interaction, Ajmal remarked, “If Assamese youths can compete with people of our ‘Miya’ community in farming, I welcome them. They will have to put forth a lot of effort. Will they, though? I don’t think so.”
Ajmal also stressed the importance of unity and brotherhood between the ‘Miya’ and ‘Asomiya’ communities in the state, emphasizing his efforts to bring the two communities together. He expressed concern over remarks made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of attempting to divide the communities and potentially incite violence.
Responding to Ajmal’s comments, Chief Minister Sarma had recently stated that the prices of vegetables were rising steeply in Guwahati city due to a majority of sellers belonging to the ‘Miya’ community. He further claimed that people from the ‘Miya’ community often work harder than the Assamese community, pointing to the emptiness of the city during Eid when many bus drivers, predominantly from the ‘Miya’ community, were absent.
In an attempt to encourage greater participation from Assamese youth in the workforce, Chief Minister Sarma promised to vacate the market beneath a flyover, providing an opportunity for Assamese boys to take up employment.
The remarks made by both Maulana Badruddin Ajmal and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have sparked a debate on community dynamics, raising questions about unity, division, and the role of various communities in the socio-economic fabric of Assam.