We don't have an issue with anyone calling themselves as indigenous- provided they prohibit child marriage......
Digital desk: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chairman Asaduddin Owaisi attacked Assam chairman Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday for his "indigenous" remarks about the Muslim migrant community, stating that he is not the one to demand continuous proof of loyalty.
"Bengali-speaking Muslims are already 'indigenous' to India. He is no one to demand constant proof of loyalty. This is just a naked show of bigotry & racism," Owaisi posted on X.
According to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, there is no issue with people identifying as "indigenous" as long as they forbid child marriage, avoid from polygamy, and support their offspring's pursuit of higher education.
"We don't have an issue with anyone calling themselves as indigenous- provided they prohibit child marriage, do not engage in polygamy, encourage their children to pursue higher education, etc.- parameters which are an intrinsic part of the larger Assamese society," Sarma said in a post on 'X'.
"I have always said to the immigrant Muslim people that his government does not mind them being indigenous but they should not get married twice or thrice. This is not the Assamese people's custom." Sarma remarked, pleading with the Muslim minority to adopt Assamese culture in order to be recognized as indigenous.
"You shouldn't permit girls in the 11–12 age range to get married. Instead of enrolling your kids in a madrasa, you should encourage them to become doctors or engineers. To be indigenous, one has to accept the culture here," The Chief Minister continued.
Sarma gave the example of, "Hindus, Muslims, Assamese Hindus, Assamese Muslims- irrespective of whether they follow Sankaradeva or not, all of them respect him."
The state Assam is home to the second-highest Muslim population, after Jammu & Kashmir.
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