Assam CM vows to prevent 'Miya' Muslims from dominating state, stirs controversy
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sparked controversy on Tuesday by declaring that he would not allow the “Miya” Muslims, a term often used to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, to dominate the state.
Speaking in the state Assembly, Sarma took a firm stance, openly stating that he would "take sides" on the issue.
The remarks came during a heated discussion on adjournment motions brought by opposition parties to address the law and order situation following the recent gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in the Dhing area of Nagaon district in Assam.
Opposition leaders, including Rafiqul Islam, an AIUDF MLA, and Debabrata Saikia, a Congress MLA and the Leader of the Opposition, argued that people from lower Assam would naturally move to upper Assam.
Sarma responded sharply, questioning why such migration should occur and whether it implied an attempt by “Miya” Muslims to take control of the entire state.
“I will not allow this to happen,” he asserted.
Facing accusations of partisanship from opposition members, Sarma remained unapologetic, stating, “I will take sides. What can you do?”
He further questioned whether the opposition expected him to protect Miya traders moving to upper Assam while ignoring the plight of Hindus in Muslim-majority areas like Barpeta and Dhubri, where they are allegedly harassed and tortured.
Sarma’s comments are part of a broader discourse on demographic changes in Assam, where Miya Muslims have a significant presence in various regions, including lower, central, northern, and southern Assam.
The Assam chief minister recently claimed that indigenous communities are now minorities in 12 to 14 districts of the state.
The discussion in the Assembly followed a recent incident in Sivasagar, where certain organizations demanded that "Bangladeshis" (a term often used to refer to Miya Muslims) leave upper Assam or face consequences.
These groups argued that the indigenous identity of the region was under threat.
Sarma downplayed the severity of these threats, noting that while statements were made, there was only one isolated incident of violence, and the indigenous communities of lower Assam face similar issues daily.
The Assam chief minister also referenced concerns over economic blockades, pointing out that while there were accusations of such blockades against Miya Muslims, the underlying issue was the protection of indigenous rights.
He cited a United Nations charter on indigenous peoples' rights and a Supreme Court judgment that recognized economic and external aggression in Assam due to population imbalances.
In response to these developments, the AIUDF petitioned Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, calling for action against "unknown organizations and fundamentalist groups" that issued quit notices to a section of Muslims in upper Assam.
The party argued that such actions posed a serious threat to communal harmony in the state.
Meanwhile, the Paresh Baruah-led faction of the banned insurgent group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) also weighed in, criticizing the targeting of one community for crimes against women, noting that people from various communities are involved in such incidents.