The Assamcabineton Tuesday recognized around 40-lakh Assamese-speaking Muslims of the state, who do not have any HISTORY of Migration from erstwhile East Pakistan and now Bangladesh, as “indigenous Assamese Muslims” and a sub-group of the greater native Assamese community.
Assam has the second largest group of Muslims after J&K. The 2011 Census states that out of Assam’s total Population, the Muslim population is over 34% of which just a little over 37% are native Assamese-speaking Muslims.
The cabinet decision has also recognized the long aspiration of the Assamese-speaking Muslims for whom their identity as native Assamese preceded their religious identity.