Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Numal Momin on Sunday strongly criticised the Congress party and accused it of practising what he described as “appeasement politics” over the years. Speaking to media persons in Guwahati, Momin said that the Congress, during its long rule in the state, focused more on religious vote bank politics instead of protecting the interests of the indigenous communities of Assam.
Momin alleged that the Congress leadership “always tried to appease Muslims” and also claimed that previous governments helped in what he termed as “Bangladeshi infiltration” into Assam and the north-eastern region. According to him, such policies gradually posed a threat to the demography of the state. He further stated that these actions were aimed at creating a situation where “Assam and the north-east would turn into an Islamic state in future”.
The Deputy Speaker also said that the Congress remained in power in Assam for over 25 years, but even then, the party, he alleged, failed to give respect and recognition to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Assam Movement. Momin said that the movement was one of the most important chapters in the political history of the state and added that martyrs deserved permanent recognition. 
He said that during the last ten years under the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, several steps were taken to honour the Assam Movement martyrs. He claimed that a memorial has also been constructed in their memory, which, according to him, shows the government’s commitment to preserving the history and sentiments of the Assamese people.
Reacting to questions about political polarisation in the run-up to the next elections, Momin said that the present government believes in protecting the identity of Assam and claimed that development and cultural preservation have been given priority. He also added that the Congress should answer why nothing was done for such a long period when it was in power.
