News Reporter
Goalpara, Assam - 28 October, 2023: Badruddin Ajmal, the chief of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), has drawn significant controversy following remarks he made on October 20th, where he claimed that Muslims top the charts in various crimes, including robbery, rape, murder, and eve-teasing, as well as having a high representation in the country's prisons. These comments were made at an event in Dalgoma Anchalik College, Assam's Goalpara district.
Mr. Ajmal attributed the high crime rates among Muslims to a lack of education within the community. He expressed concern over the fact that Muslim children seem to have ample time for activities like gambling and cheating while neglecting their education. He pointed out, "For all such wrong things, ask who's involved? It's Muslims... and that's sad."
The AIUDF chief went further, lamenting that Muslims constitute a majority in jails while other communities make progress in various fields. He remarked, "People are going to the moon and the sun, and we are doing a PhD on how to go to jail. Walk into a police station, and you would know who's in absolute majority — Abdur Rahman, Abdur Rahim, Abdul Majid, Badruddin, Sirajuddin, Fakruddin. Isn't it a sad thing?"
Statistics from an NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) report published last year supported the observation that a significant percentage of convicts and undertrials in Assam are indeed Muslims, highlighting the relevance of Mr. Ajmal's comments.
Muslims are the number 1 offender. Assam MP Badruddin Ajmal's frank confession. He said the Muslim youth go to jail for various crimes including theft and robbery. pic.twitter.com/NwM58Hvks6
— Nandan Pratim Sharma Bordoloi (@NANDANPRATIM) October 22, 2023
Mr. Ajmal also criticized Muslim youth for their behavior towards women, stating, "Why do you gaze at women in public? Do you not have a 'Ma-Boin' (mother-sister) in your own family?" He emphasized that only education could remedy these issues.
Despite his statements sparking controversy, Badruddin Ajmal maintained his stance, asserting that crime rates among Muslims are notably high, and the majority of inmates in prisons belong to the Muslim community.
In response to these comments, various political leaders have expressed their opinions. Debabrata Saikia, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, noted that if an AIUDF MLA raised such issues in the Assembly, their party would respond accordingly. Pijush Hazarika, a BJP leader and minister, concurred with Ajmal, stating that the increasing crime rate among Muslims in Assam is a matter of concern.
The controversy surrounding Badruddin Ajmal's remarks underscores the need for a nuanced discussion of crime rates and education among communities, while also highlighting the importance of addressing social issues with sensitivity and care.