‘There is a serious threat to Assamese identity today’

Against the wily septuagenarian Tarun Gogoi, who symbolises the Ahom domination of Assam’s power hierarchy, the BJP has fielded the soft-spoken Sarbanand Sonowal. A veteran of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and later a member of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Sonowal is a late entrant to the BJP. But even Congress cadre concede that the Union Minister’s projection as the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate is a clever move. His geniality makes him popular just as his association with the movements to protect Assamese identity is a critical factor in an election where “Assamese-versus-outsider” is his party’s main plank. In an interview to BusinessLine , Sonowal explains how the BJP’s plank is not “anti-Muslim”, but an effort to protect the cultural and territorial integrity of Assam at a time when migration from Bangladesh is causing a “seismic” demographic change in the State. Excerpts from the interview:

Why is it that whether it is a “national-versus-anti national” or “Assamese-versus-outsiders” issue, the subtext of the BJP’s campaign is always anti-Muslim?

That is not true. In this election, you will see that a reasonable section of the Muslim vote will gravitate towards the BJP. Those who believe in development, nation-building, they will vote for us. I have held meetings with Muslim intelligentsia; they were candid with us. They have come to the conclusion that they have been comfortable during the BJP’s reign, when Vajpayee ji was Prime Minister, and now, when PM Narendra Modi is reaching out to them.

How is that possible when you are attacking them in all your rallies?

There is a distinction – we are attacking outsiders and those who pander to the outsiders. Assamese Muslims are as against them as we are. That is why Assamese Muslims will vote for the BJP. There are three million Assamese Muslims. And they are favourably inclined towards us.

That is despite the issues of Gau Mata and Bharat Mata?

Please don’t distort slogans. We are a secular society. Hindus and Muslims have lived in peace in Assam for a long time. Here, Muslims have suffered a lot during the Congress’ tenure. The Congress has never addressed their concerns. Barring using them as votebank, what has the Congress done? I can’t talk about other States, but for Assam, I can safely say that the Muslims have no ill-will towards the BJP. Our vision document talks about showcasing Islamic culture, as people, Hindus and Muslims have lived in harmony for centuries in Assam. We are only talking about illegal migrants.

There are divisions within the AGP because of their alliance with you. Their supreme leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta does not seem too happy, and your cadre tell us they don’t like the AGP. Why have you given them 24 seats? Do you even hope to win four out of these 24?

Our alliance with the AGP works at several levels. The most important part is that AGP represents a sentiment which reflects the regional identity of Assam. We are fighting with very dangerous forces who are responsible for settling illegal migrants in this State for political gains. This poses a serious threat to the identity of Assam. That is why for a bigger cause, we decided to go with the AGP. Unless we defeat these dangerous forces…

Who are these ‘dangerous’ forces?

Obviously, Ajmal (Badruddin Ajmal of the AIUDF), and the Congress. The 2011 census reveals a very dangerous trend. After a few years, the local population will be completely outnumbered and marginalised. Our main task is to protect the Assamese identity, which includes Assamese Muslims, against outsiders. Our people had some reservations earlier. But now everyone accepts the alliance.

With a former Congress bigwig (Himanta Biswa Sarma) designing your campaign, are you not uncomfortable?

We are very comfortable. We are working as a team.

But didn’t you address a press conference highlighting corruption charges against Sarma?

Look, we have set our agenda for a bigger cause – to protect Assam from outsiders. If there is any allegation, if there is sufficient proof (against Sarma), there are investigating agencies to probe. Simply making an allegation is not proof.

Why is the PM not leading the campaign the way he did in Bihar? He has come only once so far and there is only one more visit scheduled…

He has addressed quite a few rallies and he is coming again. Assam is a smaller State compared to Bihar.

But it looks like you are having to defend the PM’s statement that “people no longer say Tarun Gogoi, they say Tarun Go Go”. Gogoi has made it an issue.

This is just plain propaganda. Of course, if I have to come in Tarun Gogoi has to go. What is wrong with that? He has been a total failure. It is time he goes.

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