Any sabotage in updation of citizen list in Assam will result in Myanmar-like situation: Muslim body chief

The biggest Muslim organisation of the country, Jamiat Ulama I Hind, has warned that any attempt to sabotage the ongoing updation of National Register of Citizens in Assam will create a situation like Myanmar.

National President of Jamiat Ulama I Hind Maulana Arshad Madni was addressing the media during a seminar organised by the Assam Action Committee fighting for the citizenship rights of the Muslims in the state.

He said that,"There is an attempt to remove 48 lakh married Muslim women from the voting registry in Assam, they will lose all rights, their children will have no education and these people will be thrown out of the country, this is going to create a situation Myanmar is going through."

The Assam Action Committee has said that the decision of Guwahati High Court to strike down validity of the certificate issued by village panchayat secretary as a supporting document which indicates the residential status of a married woman has put a question mark on the nationality of some 48 lakh married women of Assam.

Jamiat chief said that it is necessary for the Government to respect the Assam Accord and strictly follow its terms and conditions. He has challenged Guwahati HC decision in the Supreme Court.

Professor Hiren Gohain, one of the delegate said that, "Assam is the only state where updation of National Register of Citizens is going on, but certain political forces are trying to disrupt updation. An intelligence report has said that updation may lead to law and order situation in some areas."

"The rise in Muslim population can be attributed to poverty, illiteracy and their aversion to birth control measures but to claim that most have been pushed into Assam from Bangladesh for political gains is certainly a figment of imagination," he added.

Leaders from Congress and CPM were also present on the occasion to show solidarity with the cause of Assam Action Committee.