Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has sparked a controversy on Tuesday stating that he will keep taking sides and won’t let ‘Miya’ Muslims take over the state. The term ‘Miya’ refers to Muslims of Bengali origin who are often alleged to be ‘illegal immigrants.’
The Opposition and the CM had heated exchanges in the Assembly during a debate on the law-and-order situation in the state and the Chief Minister was responding to the adjournment motion brought by the opposition.
At a time the alleged gangrape of a girl has caused uproar in Assam and put a strain on inter-community relations, the Opposition has accused the Chief Minister of making statements that could further worsen the situation.
The United Opposition Forum Assam, set up on the lines of the INDIA alliance, has asked the Governor and President of India to sack Sarma from his post. On Wednesday, the Opposition parties are scheduled to file a police complaint against the CM at the Dispur police station.
The Opposition in the House accused him of taking sides to which he responded saying, “I will take sides. What can you do about it? 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 said.
Sarma’s remarks come two days after Opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi claimed that the BJP is trying to recreate the 2002 Gujarat episodes in Assam. Gogoi claimed on Sunday amid reports that some organisations have allegedly been threatening Miya Muslims from Upper Assam to leave the administrative division.
The alleged rape on August 22 has similarly led to a rise in tensions in the state, with Sarma and other ministers framing it as an “attack on the indigenous”. Flag marches and area domination exercises by the police have been taking place across all districts since Sunday.
