Guwahati, August 28, 2024 – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma delivered a sharp rebuke to the Congress party during his address in the Assam Legislative Assembly, accusing the party of deepening Hindu-Muslim tensions in the state. Sarma pointed to Congress’s significant influence in Assam, particularly in the Dhubri constituency, where the party secured over 10 lakh votes, largely from the Muslim community.
Sarma argued that the Congress could have played a pivotal role in addressing sensitive issues such as child marriage, “love jihad,” and incidents of desecration, including placing meat in temples. “Had the Congress leaders clearly spoken out against these issues, it would have made a difference. The whole community would have listened,” Sarma asserted, suggesting that the party’s silence contributed to ongoing communal tensions.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came in response to criticism from Deputy Congress Leader Gaurav Gogoi, who accused Sarma of becoming a “divisive” figure whenever his political strategies faltered. Gogoi’s critique followed Sarma’s controversial statement that he would not allow ‘Miya’ Muslims to “take over” Assam, a comment made amid rising crime rates, including a high-profile gang rape case in Dhing, Nagaon district.
Taking to social media platform X, Gogoi lambasted Sarma’s rhetoric, stating, “Whenever the Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma is on the back foot, he tries to divide the society.” Gogoi expressed confidence that the people of Assam would reject what he described as Sarma’s “divisive rhetoric” in the 2026 elections, predicting a downfall for the current government.
Defending his stance in the Assembly, Sarma distanced himself from what he called the “rat race” for minority votes between Congress and AIUDF. He questioned the ongoing migration from Lower Assam to Upper Assam, insinuating it was part of a larger conspiracy by ‘Miya’ Muslims—a term he used to refer to the state’s Bengali-speaking Muslim population.
Sarma’s statements have further inflamed political discourse in Assam, as both parties gear up for what promises to be a contentious election season in the coming years.