Miya Body Demands "Indigenous" Status for 80 Lakh Miyas in Assam

Guwahati, February 26, 2020:

Demanding "indigenous" status for the Miya community members who entered Assam ahead of independence, the Miya Parishad, an influential body, has appealed the Government to recognize the community as an integral part of Assamese society.

Talking to Inside Northeast, M Mohor Ali says that the Miyas are being ostracized by the Assamese society and they are being dishonored and typecast. "Moreover, our cause has been overlooked, even by intellectuals of the state....thus, we will be organizing a seminar to ensure with the question....will Miyas' exclusion from Assamese society affect the Assamese community?"

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"BJP Government is trying to divide the Muslims in Assam Goriya-Moriya-Desi are indigenous", Ali further alleged, and claimed that Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is trying to win a second term for the BJP by targeting the Miya class.

"In Assam there are 1.2 crore Muslims. Of them, 80 lakh are Miyas. These people are constantly being ostracized and alienated by the ruling dispensation, whereas the Miya community has always supported the Assamese. We have always supported the AASU, AJYCP, etc, but they have always neglected us. That is unfair and I believe, unjust", Ali further added, taking digs at the Assamese regional bodies.

Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has constantly attacked the Miyas and their dialect. Whereas Assamese and Bangla originate from the same source, the Miya leader told us.

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"Today's Assam was yesterday Kamrup, earlier it was Pragjyotishpur. We Miyas trace our roots from these lands, but we have unfortunately been targeted and ignored, especially by the BJP Minority leader Mominul Awal, who has not earmarked us as Assamese for the upcoming survey..", Ali says.

Mominul Awal, BJP Minority leader, talking to us, explained or "Goriyas came here 1200 years ago...they are converted Ahoms. Moriyas were brought here to make weapons by the rulers. Desis are the Koch-Rajbongshis who were converted. Jolahas were brought by the British from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand. These communities are related to the soil of these lands and trace their origin here. Thus, they have been earmarked as Assamese for an upcoming survey. In regards to the Miyas, I have nothing to say as we have nothing to do with them...."

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