Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday triggered a political controversy after making sharp remarks during an exchange with Sayoni Ghosh over references to religious sites.
Responding to Ghosh’s comments, Sarma said that people in India should focus on domestic religious places rather than speaking about sites abroad. “Those who speak of Kaaba and Medina should leave India and go live there,” he said, adding that discussions in India should centre around places like Ayodhya and Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
He further described such references to foreign religious sites as a “mental problem,” escalating the political rhetoric.
Remarks on Food and Political Jibe
During the same interaction, Sarma also made remarks on food habits in West Bengal, engaging in a competitive tone with political opponents. He challenged them to dine with him, saying he would eat more than them and mentioning that he would have “machher jhol” on May 4.
Denial Over Detention Centre Claims
The Assam Chief Minister also addressed allegations regarding detention centres in the state. Rejecting claims that Bengali Hindus are being held in such facilities, Sarma said, “There is not a single Bengali Hindu in detention camps in Assam. If there is even one, I am ready to resign today.”
He termed the allegations “baseless” and misleading.
Reference to Legal Provisions on Immigration
Sarma cited the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 while explaining the state’s approach to identifying illegal immigrants. He said the law allows authorities to take action within a short time frame if someone is identified as an illegal immigrant.
“The Supreme Court has granted Assam significant authority under this law. If a Deputy Commissioner determines that a person is an illegal immigrant, action can be taken within 48 hours,” he said.
Call to Expand Law Beyond Assam
The Chief Minister also suggested that similar legal provisions should be extended to other states to strengthen action against illegal immigration. He argued that expanding such frameworks would improve enforcement, while also claiming that current systems provide protection to certain groups.
