Guwahati: All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) President Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday mounted a fresh attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Assam government, accusing its leaders of fuelling communal divisions and urging political parties to focus on humanity instead of religious identities.
Speaking during a visit to Barpeta district, Ajmal alleged that repeated references to Hindu-Muslim issues were creating unnecessary divisions in society and diverting attention from people’s real concerns.
Addressing a gathering, the former Lok Sabha MP said that individuals should be recognised first as human beings rather than through the prism of religion.
“You will neither become Hindu nor Muslim; you are the children of human beings. I do not know when they will become human,” Ajmal added, in an apparent criticism of leaders whom he accused of promoting communal politics.
Stepping up his attack, the AIUDF Chief alleged that those making divisive statements should first learn to act with humanity before seeking to influence public opinion.
“The people making such statements are not human; they are worse than animals. Tell them to become human first. At least stop talking about Hindu and Muslim for once,” he said.
Ajmal urged political leaders to refrain from making religion the centre of public discourse and instead concentrate on issues affecting the common people, including development, livelihoods and social harmony.
His remarks come amid continuing political exchanges in Assam over religion, identity and community-based politics, with the ruling BJP and opposition parties frequently trading charges over communal polarisation.
The BJP has consistently maintained that its policies are aimed at ensuring equal development for all sections of society and has rejected allegations of practising divisive politics.
The ruling party in Assam has also accused the AIUDF of engaging in identity-based politics and attempting to consolidate votes on communal lines.
Political rhetoric between the BJP and Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF has intensified in recent months, with both parties attacking each other over issues related to minority welfare, illegal immigration, demographic changes and governance, keeping religion and identity at the centre of Assam’s political discourse.
(IANS)
