Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday issued a controversial warning against “Miyas,” referring to Bengali-origin Muslims, saying his government would “break their backbone” if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returns to power in the upcoming state Assembly elections.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Dhakuakhana, Lakhimpur district, Sarma claimed his government had focused on protecting the “indigenous people of the state.” He told the crowd, “And those who came from Bangladesh and encroached on Assam’s land and homes, we broke their hands and legs politically. This time, we will break the very backbone of the Bangladeshi Miyas, so that they cannot dare the Assamese people.”
Controversial Terminology and Historical Context
In Assam, the term “Miya” is widely considered derogatory and is directed at Muslims of Bengali origin, often accused of being undocumented migrants from Bangladesh. Originally an honorific used among South Asian Muslims, the word has now been reappropriated by some in the community as a self-descriptor for Muslims who migrated to Assam during the colonial era.
Over the past months, Sarma has repeatedly targeted Miyas in his statements. He previously declared that it was his duty “to make them suffer” and claimed to have directed BJP workers to file applications seeking the removal of Miya Muslims’ names from electoral rolls.
Legal Scrutiny Over Hate Speech Allegations
Sarma’s statements have drawn legal attention. On February 26, the Gauhati High Court sought a response from him on petitions alleging hate speech against Muslims. Earlier in February, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain petitions requesting the registration of an FIR against him on similar grounds.
Demolition Drives and Land Claims
During Friday’s campaign, Sarma also highlighted that his government had cleared 1.5 lakh bighas of encroached land from Miyas in the past five years. Since the BJP came to power in Assam in 2016, multiple demolition drives have targeted areas predominantly inhabited by Bengali-speaking Muslims, stirring criticism from human rights groups.
Assembly Elections and Political Climate
The Assam Assembly elections are scheduled for April 9, with results to be declared on May 4. Sarma’s remarks reflect the hardline rhetoric employed during the poll campaign, raising concerns about communal tensions and the targeting of minority communities. Analysts note that such statements could polarize voters along ethnic and religious lines in a state with a long history of conflict over migration and land.
Sarma’s call to “break the backbone” of Miyas is part of a series of inflammatory statements by politicians ahead of the elections, highlighting the tense political atmosphere in Assam.
