Himanta Biswa Sarma takes u-turn ahead of Assam polls, says miya Muslims not BJP’s enemies
New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not consider Miya Muslims in the state as its enemies, but expressed concerns over what he described as certain practices among sections of the community.
The remarks come ahead of the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly election expected to be held in April.
“The Miya people are not our enemies,” Sarma said, adding that the party’s objections were centred on issues he described as “love jihad, land encroachment, child marriage and fertiliser jihad”. The last allegation refers to claims that some farmers use harmful chemicals in crops meant for mass consumption.
Sarma also said that the BJP would not view the community as adversarial if such concerns were addressed.
Responding to a question on Thursday, about whether a Miya Muslim could be given a BJP ticket in the upcoming elections, he said the party was open to fielding any candidate. A candidate with a sense of patriotism and the one who supports slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” will be welcomed.
He also outlined the BJP’s approach in Muslim-dominated constituencies, saying the party would contest a limited number of such seats and that candidate selection would be based on winnability rather than religion. “Selection of candidates will not be based on religion,” he said.
In Assam, the term “Miya” has historically been used as a derogatory expression for Muslims of Bengali origin, who are often accused of being undocumented migrants from Bangladesh. The word originates from a common honorific used among South Asian Muslims but has now been long used as a slur in the state.
In recent years, members of the community have begun reclaiming the term as a self-identifier for Muslims whose families migrated to Assam from Bengal during the colonial period.
Sarma’s comments on Thursday marked a shift in tone from several statements he made in recent weeks that drew criticism. He had earlier said it was his responsibility to “make them suffer” and claimed he had directed BJP workers to submit applications seeking the removal of Miya Muslim names from electoral rolls.
Last week, the Gauhati High Court issued notices to the Centre and the Assam government while hearing petitions seeking action against Sarma for alleged hate speech against the community.
Earlier in February, Supreme Court declined to entertain separate petitions seeking the registration of an FIR against the chief minister on similar allegations.
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Guarantee schemes model for empowering poor, Cong will return to power in 2028: Siddaramaiah
Mangaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed confidence that the Congress government would return to power in the state in 2028.
He asserted that the five guarantee schemes introduced in 2023 have become a model for empowering the underprivileged, women, the unemployed and economically weaker sections, not just in the state but in the entire country.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Kambala event at Muduru-Paduru in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, he said the welfare measures reflected the vision of the Congress government to strengthen social and economic democracy.
"The five guarantees were introduced with the sole objective of empowering the poor, marginalised and weaker sections of society. These schemes have now become a model for ensuring social and economic justice," he said.
Siddaramaiah said democracy should not remain confined to political representation alone but must also ensure social and economic empowerment.
"A democracy that is only political has little meaning unless it is socially and economically vibrant," he said, adding that the state government was working towards that goal.
The CM also praised senior Congress leader and former minister B Ramanath Rai, who organised the event, describing him as one of the most honest leaders and recalling his role in bringing developmental works worth about Rs 5,000 crore to the constituency during his tenure as MLA and minister.
Despite his contributions, Rai had lost the Assembly election from Bantwal, Siddaramaiah said, expressing hope that he would contest again from the constituency in 2028 and secure victory.
He also lauded the people of the coastal region for preserving traditional cultural practices and organising Kambala races, terming the slush track buffalo race a popular folk sport of the state.
