The Assam government’s plan announced in March to provide minority certificates to six communities has caused disquiet among certain groups while raising hope among others. While several “indigenous” and Bengali-origin Muslim forums see in it a divisive ploy on the part of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government, some non-Muslim communities have welcomed it as a step that could help them being “finally counted as minorities”.
The fears primarily emanate from the Chief Minister’s statement about redefining minorities district-wise, “depending upon the geography, population and threat perception”. Mr. Sarma in March called Muslims a majority community, and has often cited examples such as of the scene in western Assam’s South Salmara district to buttress the point that Hindus are a minority in several districts.
The government has, however, not spelt out yet if the status of a minority community would get affected if it is the dominant community in terms of numbers in a certain district.
