Shahabuddin's Letter to Advani, 5 July, 1999

The reported concession by your Ministry to the AASU for reservation of Parliament and Assembly seats for the 'indigenous people' in Assam has led to state-wide protest by the religious and linguistio minorities óf Assam. The purpose appears to be to squeeze out the Bengali- speaking Muslims from representation in legislation.

The alternative could be to introduce proportionate reservation for all social groups in Assam - the Assamese (excluding the Muslims), the Bengalis (excluding the Muslims), the Muslims, the SC and the ST in accordance with the 1991 Census.

I request you to reconsider the proposal.