GUWAHATI, Oct 29 - With the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president Badruddin Ajmal coming under fire over his comments on the State Cabinet�s decision to adopt a two-child norm for recruitment to government jobs, the party has said that the Lok Sabha MP�s comments have been twisted out of context by sections of the media.
�Ajmal was asked by a news channel for his reaction to the new policy. He said that he does not agree with it and then cited reports like that of the Sachar Committee to point out that Muslims are anyway not getting government jobs. Muslims constitute less than two per cent of government employees across India, as per the Sachar Committee report. Ajmal said that the Muslim community is among the most backward in Assam and the government did not pay any attention to the community�s social and educational development. Instead, the government is now seeking to penalise people on the basis of number of children they have,� said a senior AIUDF leader.
He added that Ajmal had, during the interviews, pointed out that even RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had called upon each Hindu couple to have at least ten kids.
�Ajmal only pointed out that there is consensus among the constituents of the Sangh Parivar on the matter and BJP is very much a part of the Sangh Parivar. Ajmal only wants a debate and discussion on the issue. He had categorically said that all Muslim parents must provide the best education to their children,� said the AIUDF leader.
He added, �Ajmal cited the importance of education to bring down the birth rate. The birth rate among Muslim women in south Indian states is low because the community there is advanced socially, culturally and educationally. Besides, if the State government and the BJP are so desperate to control the population, why are they seeking to enact the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which will only bring more people to Assam?�
Meanwhile, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said that mere enactment of laws will not help stabilize population growth till people are not provided with educational and economic opportunities which will make them �spontaneously� accept and adopt the practice of having smaller families.
APCC president Ripun Bora said that expansion of education and opportunities for economic development are the key to success of any efforts to control population explosion.
�Rapid expansion of education and economic development are needed. Then people will automatically and spontaneously opt for smaller families,� Bora said.
