Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has outlined conditions for migrant Bangladesh-origin Bengali-speaking Muslims, known as 'miya', to be recognised as indigenous people of the state.
In Assam, Bengali Muslims Are Asserting Their Identity Through 'Miya Poetry' outlookindia.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from outlookindia.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Sarma, who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2015, has been critical of Rahul Gandhi like other defectors. He had famously claimed that Rahul Gandhi often kept him waiting in Delhi when he went to discuss state matters and would, on some occasions prefer feeding his dog, instead.
The Assam chief minister recently declared that neither Bengali-origin nor ethnic Assamese Muslims qualify for the scheme. Legislators and experts contest this.
Whither Assam Muslims? The Story of Group's Exclusion from Political, Public Spheres thewire.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thewire.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.