Muslim Student Union of Assam accuses the BJP-led government of harassing Muslims by labelling them as illegal immigrants. A major protest is planned in Guwahati on 11 June.
NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI — Muslims in Assam are facing growing trouble as many are being branded as D-Voters and Bangladeshi infiltrators. The Muslim Student Union of Assam (MUSA) has launched a state-wide protest against this, accusing the BJP government of targeting Muslims unfairly.
D-Voters, sometimes also referred to as Dubious Voters or Doubtful Voters, are a category of voters in Assam who are disenfranchised by the government on account of their alleged lack of proper citizenship credentials.
In a recent incident, 65 people from Assam were reportedly pushed into ‘no man’s land’ at the India-Bangladesh border after being labelled as foreigners. However, they were later declared Indian citizens and brought back. The move has sparked outrage across the state.
MUSA president Aashiq Rabbani strongly criticised the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government. He said, “The government is constantly harassing Muslims in the name of foreigners. The administration and police pick up Muslims late at night, labelling them as D-Voters. Even those who have updated NRC documents are being sent to detention centres illegally.”
Rabbani highlighted a case from Moregaon district, where two individuals, Aafia Khatoon and Shamshul Haq, were served notices by the Foreigners Tribunal despite having valid documents.
He demanded justice through local courts, saying, “The financial condition of many people in Assam is poor. They cannot fight cases in the high court. We demand that Lok Adalats and Magistrate Courts be set up in every village to resolve these issues fairly.”
MUSA, along with several other Muslim groups, plans to hold a large protest in Guwahati on 11th June, just after Eid-Al-Azha. The protest will be held under the newly formed Muslim Coordination Committee.
“If this is not resolved soon, we will protest at the state level,” Rabbani warned. “We cannot stay silent. The law gives us the right to protest, and we will use it. If this injustice continues, we will start a legal and peaceful movement against it.”
The protest is gaining support from across the state, as MUSA continues its campaign in all districts. The group says its goal is to protect the rights and dignity of Muslims in Assam, and to stop what it sees as unfair treatment under the current government.
