Badruddin Ajmal

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Badruddin Ajmal
Badruddin Ajaml speaking at a rally.JPG
Ajmal in rally held in Assam
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
16 May 2009
Relatives Sirajuddin Ajmal (brother)
Alma mater Darul Uloom Deoband
ProfessionPolitician, businessman
As of 28 February 2021
Source:

Maulana Badruddin Ajmal (born 12 February 1950) is an Indian businessman, politician, philanthropist and Islamic theologian of from the state of Assam. [2] He is the state-president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind for Assam. He is also serving as the Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Dhubri constituency since 2009 and the Founder and President of the All India United Democratic Front since 2005. He is also Chief Executive Officer of a non-profit organization, Ajmal Foundation which established 25 educational institutions, [3] schools, and hospitals. [4]

Contents

Biography

Ajmal was born on 12 February 1950 to a Bengali Muslim family from Hojai in central Assam. His family traces their origins to the Sylhet district of eastern Bengal. [5] He is the son of Haji Ajmal Ali, a rice farmer who moved to Mumbai in 1950 to try to succeed in the perfume industry using the oud plant. After the opening of the first store in the 1960s, the Ajmal perfume brand quickly grew to become a large brand in the Middle East. [6]

He holds master's degrees in Theology and Arabic from Darul Uloom Deoband. [7]

Career

The son of the founder of Ajmal Perfumes, he established the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in 2005. [8] He is also the president of the Assam State Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. [7] He is a three-time MP from Dhubri constituency. [9] He has been regularly listed among "The 500 Most Influential Muslims" of the world. [10] [11]

He is the managing trustee of Haji Abdul Majid Memorial (HAMM) Public Trust, Hojai. This trust is best known for the charitable hospital Haji Abdul Majid Memorial Hospital and Research Center [12] at Hojai, Assam. He also established a hospital at Malua near Badarpur of Karimganj, named as Badarpur Hospital. [13] In 2005, he established Ajmal Foundation, a non-governmental organization based in Assam, India, and operating 25 educational institutions across the state. [14]

Since 1995 AD (1415 AH), he has also been serving as the director of Shaikhul Hind Academy, a department of Darul Uloom Deoband. [15]

Political activities

He was the president of Hojai session reception committee of Assam Sahitya Sabha, 2004 and Darul Hadith, Jayanagar Madrassa. [7] Assam Ajmal's political debut came in 2005 after the Supreme Court struck down the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act. [16] Ajmal founded the Assam United Democratic Front, which was renamed the All-India United Democratic Front in 2013.

Before the 2006 Assam assembly elections, Ajmal was politically insignificant. During the 2006 elections however, his party managed to win 10 seats fighting the Congress. he was elected simultaneously from two constituencies – South Salmara and Jamunamukh – by a large margin of votes. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Ajmal won from Dhubri constituency. [16]

In the 2011 Assembly polls, AIUDF won 18 seats and emerged as the largest opposition party in Assam. [17]

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Ajmal was re-elected from Dhubri and his party won 3 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2016 assembly elections, however, the BJP swept the polls and Ajmal himself lost the Salmara South constituency. His party was reduced to 13 seats. [18]

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Ajmal was the only candidate from his party to keep his seat, winning again from Dhubri. With 7 children, he has most children for any Member of Parliament in India. [19] In 2020, Ajmal announced he and Congress would be in alliance for the 2021 polls. [18]

Controversy

Ajmal's statements have often courted controversy for polarizing Bengali Muslims. Following the 2012 Assam riots, Ajmal claimed the violence was between Bodos and Muslims. The remarks were criticised by an Assamese Muslim group, the Sadou Asom Gariya – Moria Desi (SAGMJ), along with the All Assam Students Union, for ignoring that Assamese Muslim were not involved at all. [16]

On 22 January 2021, at a rally in Dhubri, Ajmal claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had a list of 3500 mosques it would destroy if returned to power at the Centre and that “they will not let women go out wearing ‘burqa’, grow a beard, wear a skullcap or even offer azaan at mosques.” The BJP claimed he was making "communal statements" out of nervousness since BJP "will get majority share of Muslim votes" this election. Congress, with whom Ajmal is in alliance, as well as NDA party Asom Gana Parishad also condemned the remarks. [20]

On October 20, 2023, at an alumni meet in Assam's Goalpara, Ajmal triggered controversy by linking high crime rates among Muslims to their low educational attainment. He later clarified his remarks were meant to emphasize the importance of education, citing global observations of Muslim youth underachieving. Despite facing criticism, Ajmal maintained his stance, blaming societal ills on lack of education and urging youths to prioritize schooling. However, his initial comments comparing Muslims to criminals and highlighting their high incarceration rates were condemned for being insensitive and promoting harmful stereotypes. [21] [22]

On January 5, 2024, Ajmal sparked controversy in Assam by advising Muslims to avoid train travel and stay home during the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya from Jan 20 till Jan 25. Citing potential "untoward incidents," he also labeled the BJP "the biggest enemy of Muslims." BJP leader Giriraj Singh countered, calling Ajmal's statement divisive and highlighting the BJP's inclusivity and invitation to Muslim leader Iqbal Ansari for the ceremony. Ajmal's remarks and the ensuing debate raised concerns about potential security risks and interfaith tensions during the significant event. [23] [24] [25]

Related Research Articles

Hojai is a town and a municipal board in Hojai district in the Indian state of Assam. It is located on the banks of the two tributaries of Brahmaputra, namely Kapili and Jamuna.

Mankachar is a census town in South Salmara-Mankachar District in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated at the extreme south-westernmost end of North-East India.

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References

  1. ↑ https://archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4436%5B%5D
  2. ↑ "Himanta Biswa Sarma: In this Assam election, Bangladeshi immigrants want their own CM too". 15 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Agha, Eram (18 October 2020). "Number of Students Clearing NEET Exam After Coaching From Ajmal Foundation's Increases from 11 to 80". News18. CNN-News18 . Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Chakravarty, Ipsita; Saikia, Arunabh (18 April 2019). "'Minority communalism is costly': A polarising debate on citizenship makes Assam's Muslims cautious". Scroll. Scroll.in . Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  5. ↑ Seetharaman, G. (31 January 2016). "Assam assembly election: Perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal is expected to hold on to his strongholds & expand his reach". The Economic Times .
  6. ↑ Sajjad, M. "Ajmal Perfumes: A 70-year legacy of farm to fragrance". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "Bioprofile of 15th Lok Sabha members, India". Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "All India United Democratic Front". www.aiudf.org. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "15th Lok sabha members, Assam, India". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "The Muslim 500: Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi" . Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Times of India on 22 most influential Muslims in India". The Times of India . 12 October 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "Ajmal Foundation". Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  13. ↑ "Badruddin Ajmal Election Results 2021: News, Votes, Results of Assembly". NDTV.com.
  14. ↑ "Number of Students Clearing NEET Exam After Coaching From Ajmal Foundation's Increases from 11 to 80". www.news18.com. 18 October 2020.
  15. ↑ Qasmi, Muhammadullah Khalili (October 2020). Darul Uloom Deoband Ki Jame O Mukhtasar Tareekh (in Urdu) (3rd ed.). India: Shaikh-Ul-Hind Academy. p. 790. OCLC   1345466013.
  16. 1 2 3 "Assam Muslims blame perfume baron for unrest". Hindustan Times . 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Partywise Trends & Result". Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  18. 1 2 "The 'Ajmal' factor in Assam Assembly polls". Deccan Herald. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Mr PM, Please Note: 96 BJP MPs Have Three or More Children". NewsClick. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "Congress runs for cover in Assam after new ally AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal sparks a row". Hindustan Times. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "'Muslims No.1 in going to jail': AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal stands firm on his controversial statement". Deccan Herald . 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  22. ↑ "AIUDF Chief Badruddin Claims Muslims Are 'No.1 In Crime', Calls For Education Reform". Northeast Today. 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "'Stay home from Jan 20-25': AIUD chief Badruddin Ajmal urges Muslims ahead of Ram Mandir inauguration, BJP hits back". Mint. 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  24. ↑ Kalita, Prabin (7 January 2024). "Stay Home Ahead Of Ram Temple Consecration: Badruddin Ajmal To Muslims". The Times Of India . Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  25. ↑ "AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal asks Muslims not to travel during Ram Temple consecration ceremony period". The Telegraph (India) . 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Badruddin Ajmal
 Leader of the All India United Democratic Front Party in the 16th Lok Sabha
2014–present		Incumbent
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