As Assam prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reignited political debate by raising the issue of the “Miya Muslim” community during a public address. His remarks, made at a public gathering, have triggered widespread reactions across political circles in the state.
The “Miya Muslims” are a Bengali-speaking Muslim community in Assam, many of whom trace their ancestry to migration from present-day Bangladesh. They primarily reside in riverine areas along the Brahmaputra and have long been part of Assam’s social and political landscape.
During his speech, Sarma stated that both he and the BJP oppose the Miya community, urging people not to sympathise with them and claiming that pressure should be exerted to prevent what he described as social and demographic challenges. He also referred to the use of Form 7 under the voter roll revision process, which allows objections to the inclusion or deletion of names from electoral rolls.
Form 7 is a legally recognised mechanism in electoral procedures, used to raise objections regarding voter registration. Sarma said the intention behind encouraging its use was to demonstrate what he called the continued vigilance of the Assamese community. He further stated that any legal objections could be addressed through judicial processes.
The Chief Minister also criticised the Congress for what he described as past failures in addressing the issue, warning that inaction could lead to further expansion of the community’s influence. He linked his remarks to concerns about social harmony and alleged cases of “love jihad,” a term frequently used in political discourse but contested by civil rights groups.
In response, Congress leader Pawan Khera strongly criticised Sarma’s statements, accusing him of diverting attention from governance issues. Khera alleged that the Assam government had facilitated the transfer of large tracts of Sixth Schedule–protected land to corporate interests, calling on the Chief Minister to focus on economic and administrative concerns rather than what he termed divisive rhetoric.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in Assam, with both ruling and opposition parties sharpening their narratives as the state moves closer to the election season.
