AIUDF supremo and Lok Sabha MP from Assam Badruddin Ajmal has apologized for his remarks allegedly targeting the Hindu community and said he is ‘ashamed’ of the controversy even as police complaints have been filed against him across the state. Had gone
He, however, said that his comments were twisted and he did not target any community.
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However, Ajmal’s political opponents were quick to link his remarks to the Gujarat assembly elections, alleging that the AIUDF chief was toeing the BJP line to “save” the right-wing party, which is seeking to retain power in the western state. Has been
TMC burnt Ajmal’s effigy here alleging collusion with the saffron party behind his controversial remarks. The BJP, however, distanced itself from Ajmal, whose party sits in the opposition in the state.
I did not target any person nor used the word ‘Hindu’. I didn’t want to break anyone’s heart,” he told reporters at the Hojai railway station in central Assam.
“But it became an issue and I am sorry for it, I am ashamed for it. This should not have happened to a senior person like me,” Ajmal said on Saturday, claiming that his comments were “smearing”. – was presented in a twisted way.
On the issue of police cases against him, the Dhubri MP downplayed it and said that “police cases push the graph of politicians upwards”.
“Many Hindu leaders speak against Muslims on a daily basis, but we have not registered a case against them,” he said.
He said that equal development and rights for all were at the core of his remarks, which were given a different tone.
Ajmal had made the comments in an interview to a media house on Friday as a reaction to Sarma’s remarks on women and Hindu men as well as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, allegedly on ‘love jihad’.
The AIDUF chief, who is revered as ‘Maulana’, courted controversy by allegedly advising Hindus to marry at an early age to produce more children like Muslims.
The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Saturday lodged police complaints against the AIUDF chief in different parts of the state.
Its state vice-president Dulu Ahmed lodged a complaint with the Hatigaon police station here, while similar complaints were lodged in Hailakandi and Dhubri.
The police confirmed receipt of the complaint and said investigation has been initiated into the matter.
Ahmed demanded immediate action against Ajmal for his comments as it “has caused widespread reaction and may incite communal violence”.
Criticizing Ajmal’s opening remarks, BJP spokesperson Ranjib Sarma said that Ajmal and people like him only see women as a commodity. “The words he has used against our chief minister should be challenged by the entire civilized society,” he said.
Sarma also questioned the timing of the comments as it came on a day when a committee constituted by the Assam government to look into the problems of satras (Vaishnava monasteries) submitted its interim report.
The BJP spokesperson claimed that the report mentioned large-scale encroachment on Satra land by migrant Muslims, which is Ajmal’s vote bank.
However, state Congress President Bhupen Bora sensed a conspiracy between Ajmal and the Chief Minister in creating the “controversy”. Ajmal and Himanta Biswa Sarma are conspiring together to divert attention from the core issues facing the people and keep them busy elsewhere. He maintained
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Debabrata Saikia (Congress) also said it needed to be seen whether there was any link between the BJP and the AIUDF for Ajmal’s comments.
“The Assam Police should take suo motu cognizance against Ajmal not only for his remarks against women and a community, but also for his specific remarks against the chief minister,” he said.
Raijor Dal general secretary Azizur Rahman questioned why Ajmal, who belonged to a Bengali Muslim family, chose to speak in Hindi during the interview.
“Gujarat assembly elections are going on and the BJP’s boat is sinking there. The BJP needs religious polarization to save itself and has roped in Ajmal to defend itself. That’s why he spoke in Hindi,” he said.
The Trinamool Congress staged a protest in front of its office here and burnt an effigy of Ajmal.
“We will not tolerate such comments against women and Hindus. Ajmal is saying these things at the behest of BJP in view of Gujarat elections. We demand his immediate arrest,” said party spokesperson Dilip Sharma.
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