Call for Hindu consolidation targeting Muslims: INDIA seeks action against Sarma

The INDIA bloc filed a complaint with Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer on November 2, accusing Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of inciting divisive and inflammatory sentiments during speeches in the poll-bound state.

The coalition, comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and CPI(ML), has urged immediate action against Sarma, who is the BJP's co-incharge for the Jharkhand assembly elections. The INDIA bloc contends that Sarma’s language targets religious minorities, specifically Muslims, and risks inciting violence during the upcoming electoral process.

According to the complaint, Sarma’s speeches contain “extremely divisive and hateful words,” alleging that they portray a religious community as a voting bloc that exclusively supports certain political parties, thus fuelling communal animosity.

His remarks reportedly call for a consolidated Hindu vote, claiming that while one community votes uniformly, Hindus are split. The INDIA bloc views these comments as an attempt to polarise the electorate and consolidate a Hindu vote bank by fostering distrust towards specific minority groups.

The memorandum presented by the bloc also highlights Sarma’s statements alleging that the current government favours “infiltrators,” a term often used to malign certain religious and ethnic groups.

The bloc claims that these comments serve to paint all members of a particular religious minority as outsiders or threats to local stability, aiming to deepen social divisions for political gain. The INDIA bloc argues that such language not only undermines the social harmony in Jharkhand but also disrupts the democratic process by creating a climate of fear and intolerance among minority communities.

Further, the INDIA bloc alleges that Sarma’s speeches evoke resentment against the state’s ruling coalition, particularly targeting political leaders like Alamgir Alam and Irfan Ansari, by suggesting they represent an “infiltrator” agenda. These remarks, they argue, seek to cast the JMM-led government as one that exclusively serves outsiders, potentially alienating sections of the electorate. The INDIA bloc sees this rhetoric as a strategy to appeal to Hindu and tribal voters, by urging them to “drive out” those deemed as outsiders.

Following the complaint, Sarma defended his stance, asserting that his criticism of “infiltrators” does not equate to inciting hatred or targeting any specific religious group. He justified his statements as an effort to protect Hindu interests, framing his comments as supportive of a Hindu civilisation that has coexisted in India for millennia. According to Sarma, speaking against those he deems “infiltrators” is a protective measure rather than an attack on any community.

The INDIA bloc, however, considers Sarma’s comments as a breach of electoral conduct, demanding that strict action be taken within 24 hours. They warned that if no measures are initiated promptly, they would pursue further legal remedies to ensure accountability.