Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has triggered fresh controversy after making strong remarks about the state government’s approach towards the ‘Miya’ community a term commonly used to refer to Bengali origin Muslims living in parts of lower Assam.
Speaking in Guwahati on Saturday, January 24, the Chief Minister said his government would continue what he described as efforts to “disturb” the community in order to “tame them down,” arguing that such actions were necessary to assert Assamese resistance. His comments were made while addressing concerns related to the ongoing special revision of electoral rolls in the state.
The special revision process has faced criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who have expressed fears that large numbers of voters, particularly from minority communities, could be wrongly removed from the electoral list. A major point of contention is the alleged misuse of Form 7, which allows objections to be raised against a person’s inclusion in the voter list or for deletion of names due to death or change of residence.
Opposition leaders have accused the government of using the revision exercise to harass genuine citizens, especially Muslims of Bengali origin. However, Sarma rejected these allegations, insisting there was no controversy surrounding the process. He maintained that the notices issued under the revision drive were directed only at “Miya” Muslims and not at indigenous communities.
The Chief Minister further defended the policy, saying that the government’s actions were meant to send a political message. He stated that if pressure was not maintained, the Assamese people would appear weak. His remarks have been widely circulated and criticised for their tone and targeting of a specific community.
Political analysts say the comments are likely to intensify debate over citizenship, migration, and electoral politics in Assam, where such issues have remained sensitive for decades. Opposition parties have demanded accountability and warned that the rhetoric could deepen social divisions.
The Election Commission has not issued a fresh response on the controversy so far, while rights groups continue to monitor the impact of the special revision on minority voters.
