"Refrain from such comments": AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Assam CM's statement on 'Love, Land Jihad'
Aug 05, 2024
Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 5 : AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal said on Monday that the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's statement on "Land Jihad" and "Love Jihad" were made just to please the Hindu brothers.
Calling himself his elder brother, Ajmal advised CM Sarma to refrain from making such statements.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that his government will bring a new law in the state assembly session to increase the punishment in "Love Jihad" cases to life imprisonment. "We will bring a new law in the state assembly where the punishment of Love Jihad will be increased to lifetime imprisonment," CM Sarma said.
In an X post, Assam CM said, "Assam government is bringing two laws to stop Land Jihad and Love Jihad... If a Muslim wants to buy a Hindu's property or a Hindu wants to buy a Muslim's property, he will have to get government permission... Those practising love jihad will be punished with life imprisonment..."
Reacting to this, Ajmal said that anyone from India could buy land in Assam, unlike Kashmir (until the abrogation of Article 370).
"...Everyone has a right on the land in Assam. Anyone from India can buy land here. This is not Kashmir...What law will they bring? It is only to make Hindu brothers happy...97-98 per cent of Hindus in the country are secular, they are not communal," Ajmal told ANI.
The AIUDF Chief added, "As a big brother, I advise him (Assam CM) to stop making such statements...What is 'Love Jihad'?".
Challenging CM Sarma, Ajaml cited examples of Bollywood couples who have been in inter-faith marriages.
Ajmal said, "In the Indian film industry, the wives of many big film stars are Hindu. What will you do? You can't catch them but you will trouble the poor people...Aap par gerua rang ka asar chadh gaya hai..."
He also spoke on the Assam Government's decision to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages Divorces Registration Act, Rules 1935.
"...Go to the market and you will find out how upset people are with you. You should talk about real issues. This is democracy, not the time of Hitler. You should respect democracy," he told ANI.
He also said by repealing the Act, the Assam government was allegedly targeting a community.
"You are targeting a community... the Hindu brothers also understand this," Ajmal said.
Ajmal further questioned Assam CM, without mentioning his name, about his role in the development of the State.
Ajaml said, "What is your (Assam CM) role in the development of Assam? All the work which is being done is through money given by the World Bank..."