A meeting of Advocates of Gauhati High Court was organised by the Legal Cell of Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Assam Chapter on September 27. The very purpose of this meeting was to devise the strategy to rehabilitate the displaced Assamese and addressing the so-called foreigners issue that came forward afresh following the recent violence in the BTAD area.
It may be mentioned that following the ethnic clash between Bodo and non-Bodo, a large number of Muslims lost their life and properties. The ethic clash rendereda substantial group of minorities and innocent Bodos homeless and they got sheltered at various camps.
The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Qur’ān by Maulana Abdul Basit followed by the welcome addressby the Journalist and Project Director of APCR, Mr. Abdur Rahman. Mr. Rahman welcomedthe Advocates of Gauhati High Court, the delegation of Gujarat and Secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Mr. Muhammad Shafi Madni. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Shafi Madni. He also invited valued suggestions from the audience with a view to address the problem following theclash, how rehabilitation of the victims should be undertaken, and threadbare discussion on legal fight against the accused.
Mr. Shafi Madni shared his experiences which yielded some result in Gujarat following the communal riots in 2002. The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Gujarat along with other voluntary organisations stood strongly for the much-needed legal fight,deliverance of justice, rehabilitation of victims and for restoring social harmony. All this taught the accused a lesson and the victims are now in a better position in Gujarat.
Mr. Madni along with a delegation compromising non-Muslim and Bodo lady from Gahpur of Sonitpur district of Assam visited the BTAD and other areas. They visited Kamrup where the riot victims are sheltering. They talked to leaders of different organisations viz. AASU, AMSU, BJP, AGP, Congress including the Chief Minister, DIG of Police, BTAD Chief Hangrama Mahilary and other officials for bringing peace and harmony among the different groups in BTAD area.
Mr. Abdul Muhib Mazumder, Sr. Advocate, said the present situation is political. The Parliament election 2014 is coming and this is why the BJP and Bajrang Dal are trying to make it an issue. He invited the Jamaat to work for social assimilation and suggested it to translate Islamic books into Bodo languages. In his reply, Mr. Madni said they had already started the work. He added that they had come with a project for rehabilitation of the victims and usually they need support from all sections. Mr. Mazumder also drew the attention of the advocates particularly the younger ones to be very sincere in respect of legal fight in submitting viable cases after making proper assessment.
Mr. Mazumder appreciated the work of Jamaat and assured to extend all sorts of help and support to them.
The meeting was also attended by Sr. Advocate A.B. Choudhury, Dr. Burhanuddin Ahmed, Advocate; Anwar Hussain, Advocate; Amil Hussain, Advocate; Abubakar Siddiqe, Advocate; Dewan Abdul Qayum, Advocate and others including Abdul Hamid, Secretary Jamaat Assam and President, Guwahati unit.