13 April 2024
Sarbananda Sonowal, the BJP candidate in Dibrugarh and former Assam Chief Minister, believes that Muslims are increasingly supporting the BJP because they feel the party does not discriminate against them. He is confident in the NDA’s prospects in the Northeast, aiming to secure most of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the region, attributing this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development initiatives, especially focused on the Northeast.
Sonowal criticized the Congress for politicizing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), suggesting that Muslims have realized this and are joining others to support Modi for a third consecutive term, despite accusations of polarisation.
In his view, the BJP’s inclusive development agenda and the PM’s efforts in the Northeast have resonated with Muslims and the general public alike, attracting broader support for the party. Sonowal faces competition from the Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the sole non-Congress candidate in the Opposition alliance in the state.
From the perspective of a common Muslim individual, the BJP’s stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) raises significant concerns and uncertainties. Many in the Muslim community perceive these policies as potentially discriminatory and exclusionary, particularly targeting Muslims and creating fears of marginalization or statelessness.
The CAA, which offers citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries, is widely seen as divisive and discriminatory based on religious grounds. This perception is exacerbated by the government’s simultaneous push for an NRC, which has raised fears of widespread scrutiny and potential disenfranchisement, especially among vulnerable communities.
For Muslims, these policies evoke worries about their own citizenship status and rights, leading to a sense of insecurity and alienation. The uncertainty surrounding the implementation and implications of these measures has fueled apprehension and skepticism within the Muslim community.
In this context, the political landscape becomes complex, with concerns over religious identity intersecting with broader socio-political dynamics. While some individuals may indeed support the BJP for various reasons, including development initiatives or other factors, the CAA and NRC remain contentious issues that deeply impact the lives and perceptions of many ordinary Muslims. The quest for inclusivity, fairness, and assurance of rights remains paramount for individuals navigating this evolving political climate.
