Muslims can get indigenous persons status if they return to ‘original identity’: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Thursday that those who were forced to convert to Islam during the Mughal period can reclaim their "original identity" and be granted the status of indigenous people.

Sarma made the declaration while speaking in the state Assembly about his government's actions to protect indigenous people's land rights, Scroll.in reported.

“Islam didn’t arrive in India that early,” the chief minister said. “But if you seek indigenous status based on the community before you were converted, then you will get the indigenous tag. Many did not convert based on their wishes but because of [the fear of 17-century Mughal emperor] Aurangzeb’s sword and so they should return.”

Sarma stated that landless migrant Muslims and Bengali-origin Muslims will not receive land titles under Mission Basundhara, an Assam government attempt to update land records and make land revenue services available to citizens. The plan is based on a 2019 policy that allocated land to landless "indigenous" people.

“The definition is clear,” Sarma said. “Khilonjia [indigenous] means aboriginal... In Assam, the tribal people...[communities such as] the Moran, Matak and Chutia are aboriginal. This is a worldwide recognised definition. But we are not aboriginal. We [referring to his own ancestry] are from Kannauj. We migrated 500 years ago.”

The chief minister stated that "Miyas," or Bengali-origin Muslims, are citizens but not indigenous to Assam. Muslims of Bengali ancestry, who are sometimes labelled as illegal migrants, are among the most disadvantaged minorities in Assam. They have lived in the state's riverine territories since well before independence.

Sarma said: “[Mission] Basundhara is not for migrant Muslims…it is also not for Marwaris, Biharis or those who came from other states. They already have separate channels. Landless people can apply and the district administration will give the pattas [land titles].”

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party representative added that landless Muslims, including the Goriya and Moriya communities, who did not receive land under Mission Basundhara can apply for it through the district commissioner. The Goriya and Moriya communities were among five Muslim groups designated as "indigenous" by the Assam government in 2022.

Some Muslim MLAs from the opposition claimed during the Assembly debate, that many Muslims were not picked for land allotment under Mission Basundhara. There were around 13 lakh applications, with just 2.5 lakh indigenous individuals selected for land allotment.

The Constitution does not offer a definition or framework for determining whether someone is indigenous in Assam. Several committees were organised to develop such a framework, but they were unable to reach an agreement.

According to the 2011 Census, Assam has 1.06 crore Muslims, which accounts for 34.22% of the state's population.

The Assam Accord was signed in 1985 by the Centre and the leaders of the Assam Movement, which had been formed in 1979 to locate and expel illegal immigrants. According to Clause 6 of the Accord, the government must enact constitutional, legislative, and administrative steps to conserve, preserve, and promote the "cultural, social, and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people".