The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in India’s northeastern state of Assam plans to conduct a census on indigenous Muslims in the state, the Diplomat reported.
While the decision is apparently for the community’s “socio-political and educational upliftment,” it is also aimed at reaping electoral dividend for the ruling BJP, some experts have noted, describing the move as a tactic to consolidate the indigenous Muslim communities in favor of the BJP.
Assamese Muslims comprise 35 percent of the state’s total Muslim population of about 12 million, where Muslims form 34 percent of Assam’s total population of about 35 million.
