Indigenous Muslims sit-in to press for demands

The Federation of Indigenous Muslim Organizations of Assam (FIMOA) on Wednesday organized a sit-down at Dispur Last Gate in an attempt to voice their concerns targeting the second day of the Winter Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. Speaking to Assam Times, President of the federation, Rofiul Hussain Baruah said, “The formation of a Development Council is a necessary process for the uplift of the indigenous Muslim communities who he feels are in the throes of social-economic misdevelopment.”

It is to be noted that the Government of Assam had formed Development Councils only for the Moriyas and Maimals following classification of the two communities as backward by the Centre. The federation submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s Office through the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup Metro to bring their claims into effect.

The demands of the federation before the Government of Assam include formation of the Goriya and Desi Development Councils, inclusion of indigenous tribes and social groups in the formation of the Legislative Council (Upper House), diversion of funds allocated in the name of religious minorities to the Goriya, Moriya and Desi Muslim communities, handing over of the control of Waqf properties to the indigenous Muslims and making the Waqf expenditures public and putting and end to the construction of large dams.