During campaigning, Ajmal, who is president of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), used to serve “healing” water. Earlier in the 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.
Large number of containers, bottles which are lined up in the pavilion, when maulana after duwa (prayer), puffs on water which according to believers have a healing effect.
However, in this election all this was missing as the Assam assembly in February this year passed Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, to eradicate non-scientific healing practices with ulterior motives.
Assam government tabled the Act in state assembly and under the law any person found guilty of committing the illegal act in the name of treatment/magic healing shall be punished with imprisonment and a fine.
As per the law, no person shall take any part in healing practices and magical healing propagation for treatment of any diseases, any disorder or any condition relating to the health of a person (relating to human body) directly or indirectly giving a false impression of treatment to cure diseases, pain or trouble to the human health.The violation of the act is a cognizable and non-bailable offence under the said Bill and the punishment will range with an imprisonment for one year extendable to three years or with a fine of rupees fifty thousand or with both. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in February that Ajmal serving healing water is not banned under this act, however, the law prohibits it during elections.
Ajmal is a cleric from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh is a big crowd puller and it is believed that his healing water is one of the reasons for him being a crowd puller.
Ajmal has been winning the seat since 2009. BJP’s ally Asom Gana Parishad has fielded Zabed Islam and Congress has fielded former minister Rakibul Hussain. The seat is caught in a multi cornered contest.
In Dhubri, Muslims make up the majority. Dhubri has 11 Assembly constituencies including Golakganj, Gauripur, Dhubri, Birsing-Jarua, Bilasipara, Mankachar, Jaleswar, Goalpara East, Srijangram, Mandia and Chenga. Dhubri has 26, 63,987 voters of which 13, 64,490 are male, 13, 14,537 are female and 26 are third gender voters.
