New Delhi: Army chief Bipin Rawat has declared that the growth of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is because of immigration from Bangladesh in Assam. Referring to the rising population in the north-east region, he raised questions on rising popularity of AIUDF. Addressing a seminar organised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi on February 21, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) said, earlier Muslims were in majority in 5 districts while now they are in majority in nearly 8 districts. The reason behind this is Muslim migrants entering the state from Bangladesh.
He cited AIUDF saying it is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam. There is a party called AIUDF [All India United Democratic Front]. If you look at, they have grown in a faster time frame than the BJP grew over the years. When we talk of Jan Sangh, with two members of parliament and where they have reached, the AIUDF Finally, what will be the state of Assam, we have to take a call.
Army Chief’s comment linking growing of AIUDF with immigration has created uproar in Assam. National president AIUDF and MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi rebutted the statement made by Army Chief Bipin Rawat and said ‘this comment of army chief who is holding a responsible post is purely political and shocking. He said our party is surely growing fast but the reason behind this not Bangladeshi immigration in Assam but people’s disappointment with major parties’ performance, they see us as an alternative. Maulana said army chief should avoid making political comments.
Meanwhile, Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi also condemned army chief’s remark and said there’s no need for the army chief to intervene into political issues. He is not supposed to comment on the growth of any political party.