Ardent disapproves Assam CM’s statement that Muslims and Christians were Hindus

Shillong, Jul 12: Former Nongkrem legislator and convener of ‘Revolution Ïada La Ka Ri’, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has expressed his disapproval of Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma statement that Muslims and Christians were Hindus.

According to Basaiawmoit, the comments made by Sarma were “misleading and contrary to facts.”

According to the former legislator, the Assam Chief Minister’s statement not only confirms the motive of the Bharatiya Janata Party but also reveals Sarma’s shallow understanding of the religious and cultural practices of the tribal people of the northeastern states.

He reminded Sarma that tribals are neither Hindus nor Muslims.

Basaiawmoit pointed out that this had been clarified very clearly during the debates in the constituent assembly.

Extracting an excerpt made in the Constituent Assembly by its member Rev JJ M Nichols Roy about the cultural practices of the tribal people in the northeast, Basaiawmoit pointed out that in his submission Rev Nichols Roy had made it amply clear that tribals are neither Hindus nor Muslims.

On the floor of the Constituent Assembly, Rev Nichols Roy stated, “The Hindus do not eat beef but the tribesmen do, the Muslims do not eat pork but the tribal people do. Therefore, these people cannot be either Hindus or Muslims.”

The former Nongkrem MLA stated that this has been accepted by the Constituent Assembly, which is why the Sixth Scheduled was incorporated into the constitution to allow the tribals the freedom to practice their culture and way of life according to their own genious and understanding.

Basaiawmoit also recalled the conversation he had with the then Governor of Meghalaya V. Shanmuganathan, where he made him understand that tribals are not idol worshippers.

“Therefore, to make a statement that Christians were Hindus is erroneous and unfounded, especially the hill tribals of northeastern India,” he added.

According to Basaiawmoit, the inclusion of Art 371 A & G for the States of Nagaland and Mizoram respectively, proved beyond doubt the recognition of the same.

However, he said that it is very unfortunate that political leaders in the state seems to be content with the Sixth Scheduled, which was amended, by the insertion of paragraph 12A into the Sixth Scheduled through the introduction of Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 and substituted by the North – Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

“Therefore, I would like to urge the indigenous people of the State to make a very strong exception to the statement of the Chief Minister of Assam. We can understand that individuals are always ambitious; however, one cannot twist and turn facts according to one’s whims and fancies to further his/her personal political interest,” Basaiawmoit added.