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AIUDF terms State Population Policy as anti-poor

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has raised a strong protest with the declaration of the State Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while publishing the draft Population Policy indicating to disincentivise those with more then two children, which includes their participation in the government as state government employees illegal, besides making them ineligible to contest the Panchayat and Municipal Elections.

Speaking to the media Monday, AIUDF President, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal said that such a step violates the fundamental rights of citizens and is higly undemocratic. “Birth of more than two children is mostly found among Muslims, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Schedued Tribes (STs) and such and approach will affect them, depriving them from exercising their fundamental rights,” he added.

Refering to the Sachar Committee Report, he said that the position of Muslim employees in  government services is 11 per cent in 3rd and 4th Grade positions and hardly 1-2 per cent in administrative services, although it was decided during Hiteshwar Saikia’s regime to make rationalization in employment according to the population structure.

Maulana Ajmal said that RSS supremo, Mohan Madhukar Bhagawat is encouraging Hindus to bear more children and so is BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj according to whom Hindu women must produce at least 4 children to "protect" the religion. This is in contradiction to a BJP Minister’s stance in Assam who is all up to infringe upon the rights of the poor with more than two offsprings. The BJP must explain its position whether it is with the RSS or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

AIUDF calls on BJP to drop the initiative while ensuring protection of fundmental, democratic and human rights to the citizens. He said that poverty and illiteracy are two main reasons for increase in population. “The government therefore, should work for the promotion of education and alleviation of poverty among Muslims, SCs, STs and the backward classes. But, unfortunately it is not taking any effective measure in this regard,” said Ajmal. He therefore, plans to launch a massive awreness program among them all on the issue of population.

Assuring that his party will counter the goverment’s move in the Parliament and Assembly he confirmed that if required he will approach the High Court and the Supreme Court of India but will not let Himanta Biswa Sarma trample upon the fundamental rights of the poor people of Assam.

 

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Syed Miraz Ahmed's picture

Writes, edits and researches. In 2013 he was conferred the Rotary International District 3240 Young Achiever Award for his work in the area of environment and digital journalism. In 2006 he was awarded first in the category of Wildlife Photography by the Department of Environment & Forests and Tourism, Government of Assam.

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