Sivasagar flood relief: Ajmal says 'We didn't come seeing Hindu or Muslim'

AIUDF chief and former MP Badruddin Ajmal on July 22 appealed for political unity in the face of Assam's worsening flood crisis, urging ministers and MLAs to prioritise relief work over legislative business and calling on the Centre to extend financial assistance worth "thousands of crores" to the state.

Speaking during a visit to flood-affected areas, Ajmal said ministers should contribute from their own resources to help people in distress, describing relief work as a humanitarian duty beyond religious or political considerations.

"The ministers should provide assistance from their own funds. This is service to humanity; it is service to Allah and to God. God has blessed us with abundant wealth," he said.

Emphasising that relief efforts should be free from communal considerations, Ajmal said his team was extending support to all affected families irrespective of religion or caste.

"I have not come here seeing whether someone is Hindu or Muslim. Around 99 per cent of the people here are non-Muslims, and we have come to help them. After staying here for another one or two days, we will also help the Muslim community and people of every other community. We will provide assistance without any discrimination based on religion or caste," he said.

Ajmal also revealed that he had proposed in the Assam Assembly that the House be suspended for two days so that all legislators could devote themselves entirely to relief operations.

"Yesterday, I proposed in the Assembly that the House should be suspended for two days so that all MLAs can take relief materials to the affected people. Ministers should also go to the flood-hit areas. The Speaker should suspend the Assembly for two days so that everyone can focus solely on relief work," he said.

Calling the flood situation a matter of grave concern, the AIUDF leader urged both the state and Central governments to work together to mitigate the crisis.

"The flood situation is a serious issue, and all of us should work together with the Central Government to find a solution," he said.

Ajmal acknowledged that the government had carried out helicopter-based relief operations but claimed that assistance had not yet reached every affected person.

"The government has delivered relief through helicopters, but it has not reached everyone. However, this is not the time to criticise anyone. What we need now is relief—from both the State and the Central Governments," he added.

He further said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after completing his visit, urging the Centre to sanction a massive financial package for Assam's flood-hit population.

"After leaving here, I will write to the Prime Minister requesting relief for the people of Assam. The Centre should provide thousands of crores of rupees in assistance to Assam," Ajmal said.