AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam arrested for calling Pahalgam attack a ‘BJP conspiracy’; Assam CM vows tough action

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 24, 2025

Aminul Islam, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA from Dhing, was arrested by Nagaon Police on Thursday after his controversial public statement went viral, sparking nationwide outrage. Islam had alleged that the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir—which killed around 26 Hindu tourists—was a “conspiracy scripted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.”

The remark, widely circulated on social media, drew sharp criticism for its communal overtones and potential to inflame tensions in an already sensitive national climate.

Confirming the arrest on X (formerly Twitter), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “The inflammatory remark branding the attack as a ‘BJP-scripted’ plot sparked widespread outrage for its potential to incite communal tension and create an adverse situation.”

Islam was arrested from his residence and booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 152, 196, 197(1), 113(3), 352, and 353—primarily dealing with incitement, anti-national acts, and obstruction of public order.

This arrest marks the first official crackdown in Assam against politically charged, divisive rhetoric following the Pahalgam tragedy, which security agencies have confirmed as a Pakistan-sponsored terror strike.

Reiterating the state’s zero-tolerance stance on such comments, CM Sarma wrote in another post, “Assam will take the strongest possible action against anyone who dares to defend—directly or indirectly—the horrific, Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam. Let it be known clearly: those who attempt to justify, normalize, or dilute the brutal murder of innocent civilians are not exercising freedom of expression—they are standing against the soul of India.”

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In response to the controversy, AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal distanced the party from Islam’s remarks. “Aminul’s statement is not the view of our party. We have already clarified our stand in today’s newspapers,” Ajmal said, adding, “This is the time when we should all stand with the government. Extremists are extremists. They have no caste, creed, or religion. They are reproaching Islam and Muslims.”

The incident has not only intensified political tensions in Assam but also highlighted the delicate line between free speech and inflammatory rhetoric in a country grappling with the aftermath of terror violence. With elections approaching, the development is expected to remain a major talking point in both state and national political discourse.

Assam CM condemns Pahalgam terror attack, warns of growing religious extremism and internal threats