Assam CM Says SIR May Result in Exclusion of 4–5 Lakh ‘Miya’ Votes

Guwahati: In an explosive statement, the AssamChief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that as soon as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is implemented in the state, around four to five lakh “Miya” votes would be removed immediately.

Speaking on the sidelines of a seed-capital distribution programme under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) in Digboi, the Chief Minister made the statement to the media.

CM Sarma further added that arrangements have already been lined up in order to prevent certain section of people from voting in Assam, even though he described the process as being at a preliminary stage and SIR is yet to be implemented in the state of Assam.

“We have made arrangements so that they cannot vote in Assam. But this is still preliminary. When SIR comes, then four to five lakh Miya votes will have to be cut,” he said.

Lashing out at the Congress, CM Sarma said criticism from the opposition would not deter him from stopping Bangladeshi Miyas from residing and voting in the state.

“So let Congress abuse me as much as they want. My job is to make the Miya people suffer. If the Miya people don’t suffer, they will come even to Duliajan,” he said.

The Assam Chief Minister further claimed that members of the community had already moved into several areas of Upper Assam.

“They have already come to Tinsukia. A few days ago, I received a list of land transactions in Tinsukia. Hindus are selling more land to Miya Muslims, and they have been buying more and more properties in Upper Assam,” he alleged.

According to CM Sarma, these developments are a pointer to the fact that rapid demographic changes in the region are taking place.

“That means Miyas have come up to Digboi, Tinsukia, and Duliajan. If we are not careful now, when will we be?” he asked.

He further asserted that the Special Intensive Revision process is not causing any difficulties for indigenous people of the state.

It now remains to be seen whether the remarks trigger sharp political reactions, particularly from the opposition, amid ongoing debates over voter verification, migration, and land ownership in Assam at a time when the state is about to witness the elections.

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