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Minorities in Assam BJP membership radar

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AAMSU slams move; says “address issues of community first”

GUWAHATI: Assam Pradesh BJP eyeing minority-dominated areas to augment its membership to 40lakh in the state even as the All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) has termed the move a “strategy to build a vote bank from hitherto uncovered territory”.

The state unit of the saffron party, along with its counterparts across the country, will embark on a membership drive in Assam from July 6 to August 11. The party leadership has asked all presidents of state committees to raise the strength of their members by 20 per cent.

Currently, BJP has 29 lakh members in Assam and the party has set a target to increase it to 40lakh.

In this regard, a party meeting was also held here in the presence of national party general secretary and in-charge of Northeast, Ram Madhav and other party leaders of the state on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Assam BJP president, Ranjit Kumar Dass said similar meetings would be held across the district units and mandals on June 31 in accordance with its policy to raise membership every three years.

The membership drive of the party will cover all communities, including tea garden areas, minority-dominated areas and tribal areas.

Slamming the move as mere “drama and a strategy to build a minority vote bank, AAMSU president, Rejaul Karim Sarkar told The Shilong Times on Sunday that the party has to earn the confidence of the minority community in the state by addressing issues plaguing minority-dominated areas.

“BJP should try to solve the problems in the minority areas before thinking of entering them. Till date, minority-populated areas still crave for proper schools, colleges. There are no teachers, no funds for infrastructure development or proper healthcare service. There is no minister from the minority community in the state,” Sarkar said.

“People from the community had vo

Minorities in Assam BJP membership radar

AAMSU slams move; says “address issues of community first”

From Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI: Assam Pradesh BJP eyeing minority-dominated areas to augment its membership to 40lakh in the state even as the All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) has termed the move a “strategy to build a vote bank from hitherto uncovered territory”.

The state unit of the saffron party, along with its counterparts across the country, will embark on a membership drive in Assam from July 6 to August 11. The party leadership has asked all presidents of state committees to raise the strength of their members by 20 per cent.

Currently, BJP has 29 lakh members in Assam and the party has set a target to increase it to 40lakh.

In this regard, a party meeting was also held here in the presence of national party general secretary and in-charge of Northeast, Ram Madhav and other party leaders of the state on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Assam BJP president, Ranjit Kumar Dass said similar meetings would be held across the district units and mandals on June 31 in accordance with its policy to raise membership every three years.

The membership drive of the party will cover all communities, including tea garden areas, minority-dominated areas and tribal areas.

Slamming the move as mere “drama and a strategy to build a minority vote bank, AAMSU president, Rejaul Karim Sarkar told The Shillong Times on Sunday that the party has to earn the confidence of the minority community in the state by addressing issues plaguing minority-dominated areas.

“BJP should try to solve the problems in the minority areas before thinking of entering them. Till date, minority-populated areas still crave for proper schools, colleges. There are no teachers, no funds for infrastructure development or proper healthcare service. There is no minister from the minority community in the state,” Sarkar said.

“People from the community had voted for BJP hoping for a transformation in governance but nothing much has changed. The Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had done precious little for minorities before, and now BJP too has flattered to deceive,” he said.

Sarkar further flayed the chief minister’s indifferent role in the alleged harassment meted out to people from the community who have been “wrongfully declared foreigners or doubtful voters” by foreigners tribunals. 

ted for BJP hoping for a transformation in governance but nothing much has changed. The Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had done precious little for minorities before, and now BJP too has flattered to deceive,” he said.

Sarkar further flayed the chief minister’s indifferent role in the alleged harassment meted out to people from the community who have been “wrongfully declared foreigners or doubtful voters” by foreigners tribunals. 

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