Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Guwahati: A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that he “will take sides” and “will not let Miya Muslims take over Assam”, eighteen opposition parties have filed a police complaint at the Dispur police station accusing him of trying to ‘promote enmity’ based on religion and race.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the parties have accused Sarma of “criminal conspiracy” aimed at creating unrest in the state, warning that a “riot-like situation” could ensue unless he is “arrested or restrained.” Bhupen Borah, chief of Assam Congress, alleged that Sarma is provoking communal riots and making inflammatory statements even within the assembly. Borah also indicated that they plan to write about the issue to the President.
This comes amid rising inter-community tensions in Assam, which intensified following the alleged gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon district on August 22. Sarma and several of his ministers have termed the incident, in which the accused are Bengali-Muslims, an “attack on the indigenous,” as mentioned by IE.
In response to accusations of partiality, Sarma reaffirmed his stance, stating, “I will take sides. What can you do about it?” The Chief Minister’s remarks included a controversial assertion that he would not permit “Miya Muslims” — a pejorative term for Bengali-speaking Muslims in the state — to dominate Assam. Sarma said, “Why will people from Lower Assam go to Upper Assam? So that Miya Muslims can take over Assam? We won’t let it happen.”
Sarma has a history of making provocative statements targeting specific religious communities. Last year, he remarked that he would clear Guwahati’s footpaths of “Miya” vegetable vendors. Earlier this month, he accused the University of Science and Technology in Meghalaya (USTM) which is owned by a Bengali-Muslim, of engaging in ‘flood jihad,’ claiming that the university’s hill demolitions for new construction had contributed to waterlogging issues in the capital city.
