Opposition Leaders File Police Complaint Against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Amid Rising Controversy Over Anti-Muslim Remarks
A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that he "will take sides" and "will not let Miya Muslims take over all of Assam," opposition leaders filed a police complaint on August 27 accusing him of promoting enmity between different religious and ethnic groups. The complaint was lodged at the Dispur police station by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah and Assam Jatiya Parishad's Lurinjyoti Gogoi, representing the United Opposition Forum, a coalition of groups opposed to the BJP and its allies.
The complaint, supported by Independent Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, and Congress’s Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, accuses Sarma of "criminal conspiracy" to incite unrest in the state. It warns that Sarma's rhetoric could lead to a "riot-like situation" unless he is "arrested or restrained." The leaders have called for an FIR to be registered against Sarma for criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened communal tensions in Assam, particularly following the alleged gangrape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon district on August 22. Sarma and several ministers have labeled the incident, in which the accused are Bengali-Muslims, as an "attack on the indigenous." The complaint claims that Sarma is using the incident to "whip up communal frenzy," pointing to attacks on minority communities in Sivasagar district by BJP workers and leaders as a result.
Editorials from major publications have condemned Sarma's remarks. The Telegraph described his statements as "venomous," warning that such rhetoric could further inflame communal tensions in the state. The editorial criticized Sarma for irresponsibly using his platform to target a specific community, thereby exacerbating divisions in Assam.
The Hindu also weighed in, noting that Sarma's comments reflect a dangerous trend of politicizing ethnic and religious differences for electoral gain. The newspaper called for responsible leadership to prevent the further deterioration of communal harmony in Assam and urged the state administration to act swiftly to address the rising tensions.
The opposition's complaint also references Sarma's history of making provocative statements, including his controversial remarks last year about clearing Guwahati's footpaths of "Miya" vegetable vendors—a term often used derogatorily for Bengali-Muslims. The complaint argues that Sarma's continuous public tirades could create serious disharmony between communities in Assam, with potentially violent consequences if left unchecked.
A meeting was organized in Gogamukh Gaon Panchayat office to observe the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction on Tuesday, This programme was organised by LGSSS in collaboration with Parivartan, IAG Dhemaji, and Gogamukh Gaon Panchayat. The meeting was presided by Hiren Pegu of Bordoloni Anchalik Panchayat.
Organizer Rajen Saikia said that "We can measure good disaster risk governance in lives saved, reduced numbers of disaster-affected people and reduced economic losses. COVID-19 and the climate emergency are telling us that we need a clear vision, plans, and competent, empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence for the public good."
During the meeting, eminent water...
Raijor dol, the new political initiation lead by KMSS in support of seventy different indigenous organizations of Assam has a big motorbike rally in Dhemaji on Tuesday. The rally was organised to protest against the illegal imprisonment of their leader Akhil Gogoi which about to complete 300 days in jail.
The rally was lead by one of the key convenors of Raijor Dol Dr Hari Kanta Das with the support of more than 400 bikes from different locations of Dhemaji Assembly Constituency.
The rally started from Gogamukh and reached Dhemaji Town crossing 27 km with more than 400 bikers. The rally concluded with an open meeting.
Convenor Hari Kanta Das expresses his concern that...
Guwahati: In a major development in the state's pretty poll political landscape that rattles BJP and allies, AJP and Raijor Dal are inching closer to each other to unitedly fight the 2021 assembly polls.
AJP convener Jagdish Bhuyan admitted this development before media on Saturday saying that by November all formalities are expected to complete the merger process.
Bhuyan said, 'we will fight with single candidate in a constituency and that this will definitely help prevent the anti BJP votes divide and once the division is restricted, neither BJP nor Congress can take any advantage there of. "
By mid November both the parties are sitting formally to wage a war against...
Guwahati: Police team probing the sub inspector recruitment scam arrested one of the main accused PK Dutta on Tuesday. The retired DIG was arrested from along Indo-Nepal border early in the morning.
Dutta, who played the key role along with a circle of BJP leaders is being brought to Guwahati.
Dutta, who took cash from candidates, managed to procure the question papers and facilities these candidates hold mock trials in his hotels in Guwahati.
Dutta, went missing when police started investigation.
According to highly placed sources, Dutta was in touch with top police and civil officials and BJP leaders who mounted pressure on him to surrender and Dutta...
Guwahati: After days of will-they-wont-they, AIUDF has finalized the decision to forge alliance with Congress to put BJP on the edge in 2021 assembly polls.
Of course, CPI, CPM would also be the parter of the Congress-led grand opposition alliance.
The proposal for joining the alliance got the seal of approval as the party core committee leaders met in Guwahati in presence of party president Badaruddin Ajmal on Monday.
According to party leader Aminul Islam, an alliance is an urgent need to keep BJP away from power. The party informally held a rounds of deliberations at the instance of Ajmal who cleared proposal.
As of now, the party is contemplating to...
Guwahati: Altogether 70 local organizations who have been dead opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 floated a new regional political party with a vow to whitewash BJP and it's allies in the 2021 assembly polls.
Named as Raijor Dal( Peoples'Party), it was announced at a largely attended ceremony presided over by award winning film maker Jahnu Barua, who also is one of the leaders of Sangyukta Anchalik Dallas.
In his opening speech, Barua said that the various regional parties should remain united to save the state and it's people from the edge.
"We have seen the unity of these organization which needs to be galvanized into a force...
Guwahati: Caught in a grim controversy, state BJP has suspended Dibon Deka a day after police arrested the party leader in connection with the police recruitment scam.
In a statement issued in Guwahati on Thursday, the party made it clear that nobody would be spared and that Deka has been suspended for 6 years.
Deka's suspension assumes significance at a time when party leaders denied him to be a party member. Party president said Deka was not a party member even after the party fielded him in 2021 in Barkhetri.
Hemanta Biswa Sarma also said that he has not seen Deka in party office for the last 6 years.
Deka, one of main accused...
Lots of people have condoled the death of noted children-literateur of Assam Gagan Chandra Adhikari, who contributed tremendously in the field. Adhikari passed away on Wednessday night creating a void in the children-literature of the state.
Chief Minister Sarabananda Sonowal and Assam BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass along with several others expressed grief at the passing away of the writer.
In the decades of 70 and 80 of the last century, Adhikari penned some tremendously popular children-stories that have occupied a permanent place in the minds of many.
Pallabi Bora, a former professor of the Guwahati University said, “ He was the star of the children-literature of the state. He...
Guwahati : In a high voltage drama Dibon Deka surrendered before police a week after he was let off in connection with the recent police recruitment scam.
According to information, the BJP leader surrendered before Pattacharkuchi police station to be immediately whisked away by a team of Guwahati police led by additional DGP GP Singh.
Guwahati: Dibon Deka, a BJP leader from Nalbari who is said to be one of the main accused in the police recruitment scam is likely to surrender before police.
According to sources, Deka, who is on the run after he was let off by CID is learnt to have been talking to a few lawyers seeking legal help.
In his social media status Deka claimed the involvement of a circle of top police officers and feared threat on his life.
Add new comment