The Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Wajahat Habibullah took on Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his remarks against Muslims in the state in an interview. Gogoi blamed illiteracy among Muslims for their population growth. Taking on Gogoi, Habibullah said, “It’s possible to say that domestic population has increased but to ascribe that to illiteracy is stretching it a little. The Muslim community has benefited by education but it hasn’t risen to the same level in comparison to other communities.”
Habibullah further said, “A lot has to be done to promote literacy… The question is to implement the government’s programme. Birth rate is higher among Muslims, but whether illiteracy can be a reason is a matter which I would question. NCM too had visited Kokrajhar and had concluded that the present crisis hasn’t been precipitated by influx of immigrants. Muslim community is receptive to education. They want their girl children to be educated. I don’t know what facts he has before him, I don’t have any such facts but he is the CM who might have some data… but the manner of the statement is inappropriate for the person of the rank of the CM.”