Assam’s Muslim student group to boycott BJP in LS polls if CAA is enforced

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 7, 2024

The Muslim Students Union of Assam (MSUA) will boycott the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in all Muslim-dominated areas of Assam in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if the government enforces the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 in the state.

The CAA, which was passed by both houses of the Parliament in December 2029, seeks to offer Indian citizenship to the non-Muslim “persecuted” migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, till December 31, 2014.

The CAA has violated the clauses of the Assam Accord according to which the cut-off date for foreign nationals is March 25, 1971.

“We are an apolitical organisation set up in 2005. We have been voicing against the introduction of CAA in the state since 2019. This time also we will continue to protest against the legislation. We will boycott BJP if the CAA is implemented,” MSUA president Jalal Uddain said addressing a press conference here on Thursday.

Describing the implementation of CAA as a “grave injustice to the people”, the Muslim student leader said that the people of Assam have never accepted the CAA and will oppose any step towards its implementation.

“We have already filed a suit in the Supreme Court. Our legal fight will continue along with our democratic struggle for the repeal of CAA,” he said.

They fear that the CAA will turn the indigenous people into a minority by giving citizenship to a large number of Hindu Bengalis from Bangladesh. 

Apart from CAA, the Muslim student body also opposed the move of the Assam government to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage Act, of 1935 saying that they would not allow the government to repeal the act.

While the Assam government claimed that the initiative has been taken to curb child marriages and polygamy, Muslims feel that it would result in a lack of regulation and documentation of Muslim marriages.

Condemning the Assam government’s move, the MSUA president called it nothing more than a political stunt ahead of upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

“If they repeal the legislation, we will move the court. We have faith in the judiciary,” Uddin said.

“There is no clause in the law which allows a Muslim to marry a six-year-old girl child. The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 also allows a person to get married at a suitable age. The decision is against the spirit of the Indian Constitution and a sign of the present state government’s hatred towards Muslims,” Uddin also said.

“We demand the state government for amendment of the legislation in consultation with all stakeholders. But we will not accept its repeal,” he also said.

Regarding the Union Civil Code, the Muslim student leader added that they have similar opinions with the Central government on two points of the UCC.

As regards the upcoming election, the MSUA clarified that it would reject both BJP and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) as two are communal parties. “However, our executive committee will take a final decision regarding our role in the upcoming election. But we will maintain our political character in the election.” he added.