CM’s hate speech could ignite riot: Police complaint filed against Himanta Biswa

The continuous provocative speeches targeting the Muslim community in Assam led a united opposition front to file a police complaint against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, whose provocative tirade, according to the complaint, could ignite a communal riot.

Though the police have acknowledged receiving the complaint, no FIR has yet been filed regarding the attempt to promote enmity between different religious and ethnic groups. This complaint follows Sarma’s recent controversial remarks where he asserted that he would not allow Miya Muslims to dominate Assam. The term 'Miya' is often used pejoratively to refer to Bengali Muslims in the region.

The complaint, filed at the Dispur police station in Guwahati, was spearheaded by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah and Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Lurinjyoti Gogoi, acting on behalf of the United Opposition Forum. This forum is an umbrella organisation representing various groups that oppose the ruling BJP and its allies.

Among those who joined in submitting the complaint were Independent Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, and Rakibul Hussain, a Member of Parliament from Dhubri representing the Congress party.

The opposition leaders have accused Sarma of engaging in a "criminal conspiracy" aimed at creating unrest in the state. They expressed concerns that his statements could incite a “riot-like situation” unless immediate action is taken against him.

The complaint specifically requests the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Sarma under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between different groups and for criminal conspiracy.

The political tensions in Assam have been exacerbated by recent incidents, including the alleged gangrape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon district on 22 August. The accused in this case are Bengali Muslims, and Sarma, along with several of his ministers, have publicly described the incident as an “attack on the indigenous” population of Assam.

This has further inflamed communal tensions in the state, particularly in the Sivasagar district, where there have been reports of attacks on members of the religious minority by BJP workers and leaders. The complaint references this incident, alleging that Sarma's actions and rhetoric are part of a broader conspiracy to destabilise the state.

The opposition leaders have pointed to Sarma's history of making provocative statements against the Bengali Muslim community as evidence of a pattern of behaviour. They cited his previous remarks where he vowed to remove "Miya" vegetable vendors from Guwahati's footpaths, as well as a recent incident where Sarma reportedly targeted a journalist over his religious identity.

They argue that such continuous inflammatory speeches have the potential to create significant communal disharmony in Assam.