The BJP is all set to form the government in Assam for the first time. Are you worried?
Why should I worry? The sun has risen. The public has given its mandate to the BJP. We welcome this change.
But you have been critical of the party, particularly, against the fact that it played up the identity card?
Narendra Modi’s anti-Muslim rhetoric prior to Lok Sabha elections was a matter of concern for Muslims countrywide, but looking at the fact that he has not spoken a single word against Muslims after becoming the prime minister I think Assamese Muslims will be fine. It’s a bunch of Modi’s cabinet ministers and junior rank ministers who engage in Muslim bashing. As far as Sarbananda Sonowal is concerned, he is a serious, down-to-earth man, who has a good track record. We know that some elements in BJP will try to force him to take certain anti-Muslim measures but we are hopeful that he won’t succumb to any such pressure.
A few hours ago, BJP’s National Secretary Ram Madhav said that the new government would work toward preserving Assamese identity. How do you perceive his statement?
I don’t know what that means. All we know is that BJP has whipped up the issue of illegal immigration during the campaign, which triggered fear among Muslims in Assam. Muslims here are as Assamese as Bodos, Ahoms and Hindus are. As an opposition party, we will wait and watch for the first six months. If the BJP government adopts inclusive approach toward governance, we will support it in every possible way. If not, we will oppose it.
How is your relationship with the BJP?
I have no relationship with the BJP. It’s just that I have met Prime Minister Modi a few times to hand over memorandums for Assam’s development. Unfortunately, the Congress gave twists to those meetings, accused me of having friendly terms with the BJP. The hard fact is AIUDF differs with the BJP on ideological basis, but another important element to that fact is that I have had a good experience in dealing with its ministers in the Centre. Compared to the UPA times, I think the NDA government is quick in making decisions. They give swift orders and get the work done at a faster rate compared to the Congress ministers in the previous UPA regime. In UPA, the ministers would delay work, which was frustrating.
Now that the BJP will govern Assam and if it does good work, bring development in every community, we will appreciate it. In this election, a significant number of Assamese Muslims have voted for the BJP. If the BJP will alleviate poverty among Muslims in the coming years, I’m sure more Muslims will vote for it, just like they voted for Congress for so many years. In a democratic setup, if a party works for all, there is nothing wrong if Muslims vote for the BJP in future.
Would you support the BJP in future elections?
No one knows what future looks like. We will take that call in future. But as a party in the opposition, we will certainly support good governance.
Despite your reservations with the Congress party’s working style why did you still want to forge a pre-poll alliance with it?
We wanted a Bihar-style grand alliance in Assam. Last year, AGP was almost ready, BPF was also on board and we also were ready to get into that arrangement. So we kept shouting lets do it and stop BJP’s advance, but the party didn’t care. Tarun Gogoi didn’t show any interest. He thought he is a King since he’s ruled the state for 15 years. He would walk around with a resignation letter in his pocket in the UPA time and plead Sonia Gandhi to make him governor of any state. He is done with politics and this time he was not serious about winning. His non-serious approach affected Assam’s secular politics.
Do you agree with the BJP’s Congress-free-India slogan?
I don’t agree with it. I pray that Congress wakes up soon from this slumber. Its senior leaders are losing ground and the party is shrinking fast. It no longer qualifies as a national party because it’s confined to just three states.
Why do you think you lost from South Salamara seat?
Winning and losing elections is a sign of a healthy democracy. I have won so many times. It’s totally fine that I lost this time.
