Protests broke out across Assam after Assam MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal advised Hindus to follow the “Muslim formula” of marrying at a young age so that they can have more children which will increase the population.
Speaking to the news agency ANI Ajmal said, “Boys from Muslim community get married at 22 while Muslim girls marry at 18. On the other hand, Hindus keep one, two to three illegal wives till the age of 40 years and they do not allow babies to be born. They save money and enjoy themselves.”
Asked about the increasing Muslim population, the MP further said, “After the age of 40, they (Hindus) get married under parental pressure… So, how can one expect that they will bear children after 40? If you sow in fertile land then only you can bear good crops. There will then be growth.”
“They (Hindus) should also follow adopt the formula of Muslims and get their children married at a young age, get them married at the age of 20-22, get the girls married at 18-20 years and then see how many children are born…,” he added.
The Assam Trinamool Congress on Saturday held a protest in the Jayanagar area of Guwahati by burning an effigy of Ajmal. The agitating activists also called him an agent of the BJP and demanded his arrest for insulting the Hindus and attempting to incite violence.
The members of Assam Trinamool Congress, Assam Trinamool Youth Congress, and Assam Trinamool Mahila Congress also shouted slogans like ‘Anti-Hindu Badruddin Ajmal Murdabad’, ‘Badruddin Ajmal Murdabad insulting Hindus’, ‘Arrest Badruddin Ajmal’ and ‘Communal politics’.
However, Ajmal’s statement is being seen as politically motivated in the wake of the Gujarat assembly elections as he spoke exclusively in Hindi and not in Assamese or Bengali. He also mocked Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The AIUDF chief asked Sarma to indulge in ‘love jihad’ while responding to the CM’s comments in Gujarat in reference to the murder of Shraddha Walkar allegedly by her live-in partner Aftab Poonawala.
“The CM is one of the top leaders of the country today. So, who is stopping him, you also carry out four to five ‘love jihad’ and take away our Muslim girls. We will welcome it and won’t even fight,” said Ajmal. Sarma is yet to comment on Ajmal’s statement.
However, after the backlash, Ajmal on Saturday said, as quoted by TOI, “If my words hurt anyone’s sentiments, I take back my words. I only want the government to do justice to minorities and provide them education and employment.”
Meanwhile, BJP has asked the minority community to withdraw the ‘Maulana’ title from Badruddin Ajmal. On the other hand, opposition parties have alleged Ajmal’s statement was a part of BJP’s strategy in view of the Gujarat polls.
Assam cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said, as quoted by TOI, “Ajmal is a political terrorist. His recent comment on ‘Muslim formula’ is utterly disgusting and awful.”
BJP legislator Diganta Kalita urged the minority community to rise against Ajmal and said that people making such comments should be “socially and politically ostracised”.
Leader of opposition (LoP) Debabrata Saikia said Ajmal’s remark was derogatory towards women. Saikia also compared Ajmal to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and said the Assamese society would never accept Arabic culture.
Congress MP Abdul Khaleque also pointed out a link between Ajmal’s statement and Gujarat polls. “Who knows this might be a part of a conspiracy to polarise votes in Gujarat. Otherwise, why has he not been arrested yet?” questioned Khaleque.
