BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is a known elected representative of the people for creating communalism between different communities, even linking crimes, particularly crimes against women and children, to the Muslim community for his political gain.
His recent comments, invoking Hindu identity while portraying the Muslim community as the state's evil, exemplify the nefarious tactics at work, defying the Constitutional oath he took to assume the Chief Minister's post, which pledges to serve all people of the state, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed.
An incident of a 14-year-old Hindu girl being gang raped in Nagaon, Assam, and one of the three accused was found to be a Muslim who was later reported to have died after being drowned in a pond while escaping the police, as reported by the police, prompting Sarma to narrate the incident as a Muslim ploy against the Hindu population in the region.
The incident, which occurred on August 22 in the Muslim-majority district of Nagaon, involved the alleged assault of a Hindu girl by three men, one of whom, Taffiqul Islam, is a Muslim.
Chief Minister Sarma also linked the incident to the Congress’ win in the Nagaon constituency in the Lok Sabha election, alleging that it was collateral damage resulting from the Congress’ victory.
Sarma's remarks have sparked widespread condemnation, particularly from the Congress party, which has accused him of diverting attention from the pressing issue of women's safety in the state.
The Chief Minister's inflammatory comments, which suggest that the attack is part of a broader conspiracy by the Muslim community to displace Hindus, have been criticized for inciting communal tensions rather than addressing the crime's root causes.
The controversy intensified following the mysterious death of Taffiqul Islam, the prime suspect in the case, who allegedly drowned while in police custody. According to police reports, Islam attempted to flee during a late-night visit to the crime scene, despite being handcuffed and under heavy police surveillance.
His death has raised serious questions about police conduct, with human rights organizations labelling it as a potential custodial death and a sign of rising impunity among law enforcement.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has strongly condemned the Chief Minister's communal rhetoric and has called for a white paper on crimes against women in the state. The APCC argues that the government's failure to protect women reflects a deeper crisis in law enforcement and governance under the BJP's rule in Assam.
The Congress party has emphasized that the issue at hand is not just a political concern but a matter of public safety that affects every woman in the state.