‘Won't Let Miya Muslims…’: Assam CM Himanta Sarma Decries Bid For ‘Forced Settlement’ In Indigenous Areas

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma calls to prevent alleged forced settlement of 'Miya' Muslims in indigenous Assamese areas during a heated assembly debate.

File Photo of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Source : PTI

In a heated session of the Assam Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma firmly asserted that he would "take sides" and vowed not to allow 'Miya' Muslims to "take over Assam." His remarks came amid discussions on the law and order situation in the state, following the horrific gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon.

The term 'Miya' originally served as a pejorative for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, often identified by non-Bengali-speaking locals as Bangladeshi immigrants. However, in recent years, activists from the community have begun embracing the term as a form of defiance.

Responding to adjournment motions moved by the opposition, Sarma disputed claims that the crime rate had increased, arguing that when population growth is considered, the crime rate has actually decreased. "Not a single case of rape is acceptable. Still, if population increase is taken into consideration along with the number of rape cases in recent years, the crime rate has come down. There has been much improvement in the last 10 years," he stated, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Amid the tense atmosphere, AIUDF MLA Rafikul Islam insisted that people from Lower Assam have the right to move to Upper Assam, referring to recent diktats by some organisations asking them to leave. 

CM Himanta Sarma asserted his stance, stating, "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."

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he urged the 'Miya-Muslim' community not to forcibly settle in indigenous Assamese areas, warning that such actions could aggravate societal tensions and pose security risks.

"Rafiqul Zaman Sahab, MLA of Jania constituency said that they will go... If you want to insist on going to Karbi Anglong, BTR, Upper (Assam) like this, don't insist on going. I beg you not to persist. Today I found it surprising that Debabrata Saikia, the opposition leader said that he himself is the MLA of Nazira constituency and he has said that Miya Muslim must go from Upper Assam. The Miya Muslim word was used, people will go from Upper to lower. You have also said you will go. At this sensitive moment, I will tell you one thing: don't go forcefully where the Assamese people don't want to. Go when they want to. Now look at what happened to the whole hills of Guwahati. Now in the forests, we don't want you, you cannot insist on going.  Don't go. I tell you once again if you go forcefully against the will of Upper Assam people, there will be no security there," Sarma said in an accompanying video of the Assembly discussion.

My request to the Miya-Muslim community is not to forcefully try to settle in indigenous Assamese areas against their will; this will aggravate societal fault lines and be a possible security issue.#AssamLegislativeAssembly pic.twitter.com/LIMeh6V1Pg

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 27, 2024

In another video shared by the Assam Chief Minister on X, he addressed the issue of communal tensions in the state, particularly in the districts of Barpeta and Dhubri. He remarked that if Hindus face persecution in these areas and are protected by the majority, then intervention might not be necessary. Sarma mentioned that over the past four months, incidents in these districts led him to send Jayanta Malla Baruah, but the local MLA did not take action. Sarma questioned, "Who is taking sides here?" He suggested that tolerance towards Hindus across Assam could prevent such incidents.

कांग्रेसी कहते हैं कि मैं तुष्टिकरण कर रहा हूँ। अब सच सुन लीजिए:

मुस्लिम बहुल क्षेत्र में एक मुसलमान हिंदू पर अत्याचार करता है और वहां के स्थानीय विपक्ष के विधायक पीड़ित परिवारजनों से मिलते भी नहीं। लेकिन वहां हमारे मंत्री गए।

कांग्रेस किसके पक्ष में है? pic.twitter.com/GOoPcfd6lv

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 27, 2024

Himanta Biswa Sarma also highlighted the complexity of rape cases involving individuals from different religious communities, stating that societal problems arise when advocates from either community refuse to take up cases involving the other. He recounted his visit to Laharighat in Morigaon, where a Muslim girl was raped, noting that both the victim and the perpetrator were from the same community. He criticised those who tried to downplay the incident and urged the Assembly to send a clear message that lawyers should not shield accused individuals based on communal lines. Sarma emphasised that protection should extend to Hindus who continue to face persecution in areas like Barpeta and Dhubri.

The Chief Minister also highlighted a new economic blockade by 'Miya' Muslims, as fish traders from Nagaon district decided to halt supplies to Upper Assam in response to threats. He emphasised that 'Miya' Muslims and the opposition MLAs supporting them must prove through their actions that Hindus in Muslim-majority areas are not in danger. "If a Hindu family is a victim of a crime in a Muslim-majority area, the Muslims of that area must assuage their apprehensions and ensure that they do not leave the place," Sarma added.

The exchange intensified when opposition members, including Congress, AIUDF, and CPI(M) MLAs, stormed into the Well of the House, prompting Speaker Biswajit Daimary to adjourn proceedings for ten minutes. The opposition accused the government of failing to protect women and prevent crimes, with Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia stating, "The CM, who also holds the Home portfolio, is not at all serious and concerned about the situation." He further criticised the government for allegedly instructing the police not to register cases of crimes against women when certain communities were not involved.

The controversy follows comments by Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi, who claimed that the BJP is attempting to replicate the 2002 Gujarat incidents in Assam, NDTV reported. Gogoi's remarks were in response to reports of organisations allegedly threatening Muslims in Upper Assam, demanding their departure from the region. 

Akhil Gogoi was suspended by the Speaker for disrupting proceedings during the last part of the Chief Minister's speech.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Tries To Divide Society When He Is On Backfoot: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi

Reacting to Sarma's controversial remarks, Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi accused the Chief Minister of resorting to divisive tactics whenever he is on the defensive. "Whenever the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is on the back foot, he tries to divide the society," Gogoi posted on X (formerly Twitter), referring to the recent statements by Sarma following the gang-rape incident in Dhing, Nagaon district. Gogoi expressed confidence that the people of Assam would see through Sarma's divisive rhetoric. "They know he has failed as a chief minister. Assamese people will remain united and vote out his arrogant government in 2026," he asserted.

Whenever the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is on the back foot he tries to divide the society. But the people of Assam are smarter than him. They will not fall for his divisive rhetoric. They know he has failed as a Chief Minister. Assamese people will remain united and vote…

— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) August 27, 2024

The backdrop to this controversy is the gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Dhing, Nagaon district, on 22 August. In the aftermath, several groups in Upper Assam, especially in Sivasagar district, issued an ultimatum to the 'Miya' community, demanding they leave within a week. In response, fish traders from Nagaon district announced on Tuesday that they would cease sending supplies to Upper Assam for an indefinite period.