Bigotry on display: Muslims shown as criminals at Assam varsity event
Dispur: A cultural procession organised by a university in BJP-ruled Assam state took a disturbing turn when it depicted Muslims as criminals, The Wire reported.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident took place at the Bodoland University in Kokrajhar where a cultural event organized by the Department of History was intended as a celebration of video legendary heroes during the university’s 23rd varsity week and Thulunga Festival.
However, a viral video showed a stage act where two people were dressed in Muslim attire, with beards and skull caps, and also had their hands bound. They were being walked in the rally behind a man reportedly dressed up as a policeman. The two dressed up people are shown to be beaten up by police personnel in the video of the rally. The rally, with students holding up the banner for the event, can be seen following behind.
In response to the incident, the Muslim Student Union of Assam’s (MSUA) central president Jalal Uddin expressed shock at the depiction. “We do not understand why a higher educational institute tried to portray Muslims as criminals. We condemn the attitude of Bodoland University for such humiliation.”
As per The Wire report, other student organisations including North East Minority Students Union (NEMU), Krishak Shramiak Unnayan Sangram Samiti (KSUSS), Muslim Jatiya Parishad (MJP), and Burman Mandai Students Union (BMSU) have also condemned the incident.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also been in the past recorded for reportedly giving hate speeches and also engaging in dog-whistling against minorities especially Muslims.
