Multiple Complaints Lodged Against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma For Alleged Hate Speech Over 'Miya' Remarks

Several police complaints were filed against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday (17 July) for alleged hate speech against Bengali-speaking Muslims, commonly known as 'Miya' in the state.

The Chief Minister had reportedly made a statement a few days ago, blaming the soaring prices of vegetables on the monopoly of 'Miya' cultivators and traders.

He also urged the Assamese youth to engage in farming and other commercial activities to push the 'Miyas' out of business.

The first complaint was lodged by the minority outfit Asom Sankhyalaghu Sangram Parishad at the Nagaon Sadar police station in central Assam.

The organisation accused the Chief Minister of promoting hatred between the 'Miya' and Assamese communities through his controversial remarks.

Assam's Rajya Sabha member, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, also filed a complaint against Sarma at the Dispur police station.

The Assembly and Secretariat fall within the jurisdiction of this police station in Guwahati, reports The Hindu.

Bhuyan emphasised that the Chief Minister had targeted a specific community and demanded his arrest, citing a stringent law in the Supreme Court against those making communal remarks.

The Assam State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also lodged a complaint against the Chief Minister at the Latasil police station in central Guwahati.

The complaint, signed by party's state secretary Suprakash Talukdar and Central Committee Member Isfaqur Rahman, accuses the Chief Minister of making hate speeches on communal lines to create division and tensions between Hindus and Muslims.

Further, the Assam unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has written to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, requesting judicial action against Sarma for violating its 28 April order regarding hate speech.

The party has also urged the initiation of Suo-motu contempt proceedings against the Assam government.

According to state TMC president Ripun Bora, the Chief Minister's opinion about the Miya community, blaming them for the price hike of essential commodities in Assam and taking away jobs from Assamese youths, clearly demonstrates the divisive politics played by the BJP and its leaders.

In addition, the CPI(M) has filed a complaint against All-India United Democratic Front chief and MP Badruddin Ajmal for making similar hate speeches against Hindus with communal overtones.

Seeking appropriate legal action against both the “offenders” under relevant sections of the law, the complaint referred to Ajmal’s statement on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in western Assam’s Dhubri on 12 July.

During this statement, Ajmal made an implication that if the proposed UCC is implemented, Hindus would be required to wear the same clothing and consume the same types of fish and meat.