Assam minister attacked for slamming Muslim leader

Guwahati, April 28 (IANS) People hurled shoes, sandals and empty water bottles at Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain in Western Assam's Chirang district Sunday after he hit out at All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Moulana Badaruddin Ajmal in a speech.

Police controlled the irate mob at the event organised by the All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU).

"The minister was speaking about the efforts he had initiated to restore normalcy during last year's ethnic riots between tribal Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims in Bodoland. The minister said that the Congress controlled the riots and that AIUDF leader only did politics. This infuriated some AIUDF supporters and they started hurling shoes and other things at the dais," said AAMSU president Abdur Rahim.

The minister finished his speech abruptly. As he was leaving, some people hurled mud and stones at him and his convoy.

"There is nothing new. Several Congress leaders have faced such problems. There will always be some people who resort to this kind of behaviour. We have to move on," Hussain said later.

Ajmal, who leads Assam's major opposition party AIUDF, has a strong support base among Muslims in western Assam.

Ethnic riots between Bodos and Bengali speaking Muslim settlers in Assam's Kokrajhar, Baksa and Dhubri districts last year left over 100 civilians killed and displaced close to five lakh people.