Badruddin Ajmal

Badruddin Ajmal[2] (born 12 February 1950) is an Indian businessman, politician, philanthropist and Islamic theologian from the state of Assam.[3]

Badruddin Ajmal
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 May 2009
Preceded by	Anwar Hussain
Constituency	Dhubri
Personal details
Born	12 February 1950 Hojai, Assam, India[1]
Political party	All India United Democratic Front (2005 to present)
Alma mater	Darul Uloom Deoband
Profession	Politician, businessman

The son of the founder of Ajmal Perfumes, he established the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in 2005.[4] He is also the president of the Assam State Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. He holds master's degrees in Theology and Arabic from Darul Uloom Deoband university.[5]

He is a 3-time MP from Dhubri constituency.[6] He has been regularly listed among The 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world.[7][8]

Early life

Ajmal was born the son of Haji Ajmal Ali, a rice farmer from Hojai in central Assam. In 1950, his father moved to Mumbai to try and 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.[9]

Philanthropy

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[10] at Hojai, Assam. He also established a hospital at Malua near Badarpur of Karimganj District. The hospital is named as Badarpur Hospital.

Political activities

He was the president of Hojai session reception committee of Assam Sahitya Sabha, 2004 and Darul Hadith, Jayanagar Madrassa.[5] Assam Ajmal's political debut came in 2005 after the Supreme Court struck down the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act.[11] Ajmal founded the Assam United Democratic Front, which was renamed the All-India United Democratic Front in 2013. His main votebank has been Bengali-speaking Muslims, who have a significant presence in Lower Assam and the Barak Valley.

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.[11]

In the 2011 Assembly polls, AIUDF won 18 seats and emerged as the largest opposition party in Assam.[12]

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.[13]

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 number of children for any Member of Parliament in India.[14] In 2020, Ajmal announced he and Congress would be in alliance for the 2021 polls.[13]

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 Muslims were not involved at all.[11]

On 22 January 2021, at a rally in Dhubri, Ajmal claimed the 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.[15]

References

1. https://archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4436
2. "AIUDF President". Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
3. "Himanta Biswa Sarma: In this Assam election, Bangladeshi immigrants want their own CM too". 15 February 2016.
4. http://www.aiudf.org AIUDF Official Website
5. "Bioprofile of 15th Lok Sabha members, India". Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
6. "15th Lok sabha members, Assam, India". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
7. "The Muslim 500: Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
8. "Times of India on 22 most influential Muslims in India". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
9. Sajjad, M. "Ajmal Perfumes: A 70-year legacy of farm to fragrance". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
10. "Ajmal Foundation". Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
11. "Assam Muslims blame perfume baron for unrest". Hindustan Times. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012.
12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. "The 'Ajmal' factor in Assam Assembly polls". Deccan Herald. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
14. "Mr PM, Please Note: 96 BJP MPs Have Three or More Children". NewsClick. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
15. "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.

External links

• Badruddin Ajmal on Facebook