GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sparked controversy within the state meeting on Tuesday, saying he wouldn’t permit “miya Muslims” to “take over” the state.
Miya is a euphemism in Assam, usually used disparagingly to check with immigrant Muslims of Bangladeshi origin. The neighborhood is going through public anger within the wake of a 14-year-old lady’s gangrape in Nagaon district on Aug 22.The crime occurred in an space predominantly inhabited by immigrant Muslims, a neighborhood central to the state’s anti-foreigner agitation of the Eighties.
Throughout a dialogue on rising crimes in opposition to ladies, the CM remarked: “Whether or not knowingly or unknowingly, two opposition MLAs stated folks from decrease Assam will go to higher Assam anyway. I’ll take sides. What are you able to do about it? …Why will folks from decrease Assam go to higher Assam? In order that miya Muslims can take over Assam? We cannot let it occur.” The CM’s remarks drew sharp criticism from the opposition, with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accusing Sarma of trying to polarise the general public and divide society every time he confronted challenges.
Gogoi stated the folks of Assam are “clever sufficient to see by way of the CM’s divisive rhetoric”, including: “They know he has failed as a CM. Assamese folks will stay united and vote out his conceited govt in 2026.”
CM Sarma later clarified his stand, stressing that whereas residents have the authorized and constitutional proper to maneuver freely inside the state, social order and sensitivity have to be maintained throughout such tense occasions.
In response, AIUDF legislator Rafiqul Islam asserted that individuals have the suitable to conduct enterprise wherever within the state and warned that threats to Muslims in higher Assam infringe upon constitutional rights.
Miya is a euphemism in Assam, usually used disparagingly to check with immigrant Muslims of Bangladeshi origin. The neighborhood is going through public anger within the wake of a 14-year-old lady’s gangrape in Nagaon district on Aug 22.The crime occurred in an space predominantly inhabited by immigrant Muslims, a neighborhood central to the state’s anti-foreigner agitation of the Eighties.
Throughout a dialogue on rising crimes in opposition to ladies, the CM remarked: “Whether or not knowingly or unknowingly, two opposition MLAs stated folks from decrease Assam will go to higher Assam anyway. I’ll take sides. What are you able to do about it? …Why will folks from decrease Assam go to higher Assam? In order that miya Muslims can take over Assam? We cannot let it occur.” The CM’s remarks drew sharp criticism from the opposition, with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accusing Sarma of trying to polarise the general public and divide society every time he confronted challenges.
Gogoi stated the folks of Assam are “clever sufficient to see by way of the CM’s divisive rhetoric”, including: “They know he has failed as a CM. Assamese folks will stay united and vote out his conceited govt in 2026.”
CM Sarma later clarified his stand, stressing that whereas residents have the authorized and constitutional proper to maneuver freely inside the state, social order and sensitivity have to be maintained throughout such tense occasions.
In response, AIUDF legislator Rafiqul Islam asserted that individuals have the suitable to conduct enterprise wherever within the state and warned that threats to Muslims in higher Assam infringe upon constitutional rights.
