Mini NRC to be conducted by the Assamese Muslims

Assamese Muslims have decided to prepare their own “mini NRC” in order to distinguish the indigenous followers of Islam from Bengal-origin migrant Muslims residing in Assam.

Starting from Assamese New Year day 15 April,the Janagosthiya Samannay Parishad (JSP) would lead the exercise and applicants would be required to apply online for the inclusion of their names in the list of indigenous Muslims. After that, a draft list would be published following verification of documents.

JSP chief convenor Mominul Awal stretched that the ‘census’ of the indigenous Muslims was highly needed to distinguish the indigenous Muslims from the migrated Muslims.

The JSP represents three categories of indigenous Muslims : Goriya, Moriya and Deshi.

Goriya, Moriya, Deshi etc are Assam's indigenous Muslim communities. But as our religion is the same and we have similar names, there is no difference between indigenous Muslims and migrated Muslims. A group of them migrated Muslims has taken an initiative to make all Muslims living in Assam one community. But the indigenous Muslims have a distinct identity, given by the Ahom kings and Bir Chilarai said Awal. 

The exercise would be similar to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that left out 19.06 lakh of the 3.3 crore applicants, he said.

While the Muslims constitute 34.22% of Assam’s total population, Awal said Assam’s indigenous Muslim population was estimated to be around 40 lakh.