Himanta targets Bangladeshi Muslims; Congress alleges bid to divide society | India News – Times of India

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sparked controversy in the state assembly on Tuesday, saying he would not allow “miya Muslims” to “take over” the state.
Miya is a euphemism in Assam, often used disparagingly to refer to immigrant Muslims of Bangladeshi origin. The community is facing public anger in the wake of a 14-year-old girl’s gangrape in Nagaon district on Aug 22.The crime happened in an area predominantly inhabited by immigrant Muslims, a community central to the state’s anti-foreigner agitation of the 1980s.
During a discussion on rising crimes against women, the CM remarked: “Whether knowingly or unknowingly, two opposition MLAs said people from lower Assam will go to upper Assam anyway. 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.” The CM’s remarks drew sharp criticism from the opposition, with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accusing Sarma of attempting to polarise the public and divide society whenever he faced challenges.
Gogoi said the people of Assam are “intelligent enough to see through the CM’s divisive rhetoric”, adding: “They know he has failed as a CM. Assamese people will remain united and vote out his arrogant govt in 2026.”
CM Sarma later clarified his stand, stressing that while citizens have the legal and constitutional right to move freely within the state, social order and sensitivity must be maintained during such tense times.
In response, AIUDF legislator Rafiqul Islam asserted that people have the right to conduct business anywhere in the state and warned that threats to Muslims in upper Assam infringe upon constitutional rights.