"Islamophobia Is Real, Will Reduce If Muslims Accept UCC, Shift Gyanvapi Mosque": Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed that "Islamophobia is real" as many "sections of Muslims in our country hate the majority community" in an interview with The Indian Express.

When he was asked about allegations of resorting to Islamophobia to boost the BJP, including in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, he said, "Islamophobia is real for many of us."

He explained that he had not used the word Muslim in his election speeches in Assam and campaigned intensively in Muslim-dominated areas.

Sarma believes that Islamophobia will come down when Muslims accept a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Krishna Janambhoomi in Mathura and shift the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi.

"Islamophobia cannot be reduced by the so-called secular people. It has to be reduced by a dialogue between Hindus and Muslims. You just cannot blame Hindus asking why they are speaking against Muslims," he said.

Sarma emphasised asking Muslims also why they are speaking against Hindus and said that only a few issues remain between Hindus and Muslims, which would be resolved in the third term of PM Modi.

"Gradually we will see the politics of development… We need to make India developed and for all communities to live in harmony... Let them shift the Shahi Eidgah (in Mathura) to a different location," he said.

"If the Gyanvapi Masjid can be relocated, not by force but with mutual consultation, the situation will be different," Sarma added highlighting the Assam model.

"I have transformed a large section of the Muslim community from being Hindu haters to those who can co-exist with Hindus… So the incidents of love jihad, land grabbing have come down," he explained.