The Binnakandi Assembly constituency was created following the delimitation exercise of 2023. During campaigning, Ajmal, who is president of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), used to serve “healing” water. He was a crowd puller.
Earlier, in a series of rallies, he had to make time after prayers to “bless” many containers of water brought by his followers, who believe it has a healing effect.
The Assam government brought a law against magical healing, and since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls Ajmal has stopped this practice. Earlier, a large number of containers and bottles used to be lined up in the pavilion. After dua (prayer), the maulana would puff on the water, which according to believers had a healing effect. He lost the last Lok Sabha polls from Dhubri.
Now Ajmal has turned to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to campaign for his party, as it faces a quintessential crisis of existence. During the 2021 assembly polls, AIUDF was part of the Congress-led Grand Alliance.
In 2024, the Assam Assembly in February this year passed the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, to eradicate non-scientific healing practices with ulterior motives.
Under the law, any person found guilty of committing illegal acts in the name of treatment or magic healing shall be punished with imprisonment and a fine. The Assam Healing Act aims to bring social awakening in society and create a healthy, science-based knowledge system and a safe environment to protect human health against evil and sinister practices thriving on people’s ignorance and ill health, and to eradicate non-scientific healing practices with ulterior motives.
As per the law, no person shall take part in healing practices or magical healing propagation for the treatment of any disease, disorder, or any condition relating to the health of a person (relating to the human body), directly or indirectly giving a false impression of treatment to cure diseases, pain, or trouble to human health.
No person shall take part in any sort of advertisement relating to any kind of medicine or remedy that directly or indirectly makes a false claim to cure diseases through healing practices.
Violation of the Act is a cognizable and non-bailable offence under the said Bill. The punishment ranges from imprisonment for one year, extendable to three years, or a fine of Rs 50,000, or both. On a second conviction, the punishment may extend up to five years, or a fine of Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Ajmal, a cleric from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, used to be a big crowd puller, and it is believed that his healing water was one of the reasons for his popularity.
AIUDF is contesting 30 seats and is known for espousing the cause of the Muslim minority in Assam. Asaduddin Owaisi will campaign for the AIUDF in the Assam polls.
Ajmal said on Friday that Owaisi will visit Assam on April 2 and 3, during which he is scheduled to address at least eight public meetings across different constituencies. Earlier, Owaisi announced his party’s support for the All India United Democratic Front.
“I have been in contact with Owaisi for a long time. My son went to Delhi to formally meet him and discuss his visit to Assam, and he agreed to come on April 2 and 3. We will try to hold at least eight programmes over the two days,” Ajmal said.
In 2016, the AIUDF won 13 seats. In 2021, the party was part of the Congress-led Grand Alliance and won 15 seats. After the Supreme Court scrapped the IMDT Act in 2005, AIUDF was formed. AIUDF made the IMDT Act its main poll plank in the 2006 assembly polls. AIUDF had eaten into the Muslim support base of Congress.
AIUDF clinched 10 seats in the 2006 assembly polls. In the 2011 assembly polls, AIUDF got 18 seats and emerged as the largest opposition party in the state legislative assembly.
