"Selective History, Shifting Narratives": Assam CM Faces Flak Over Azan Faqir, Bagh Hazarika Comments

The Central Committee of the Sadou Asom Goria-Moria-Desi-Jatiya Parishad on Sunday criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over what it described as misleading and divisive remarks concerning Azan Faqir (Ajan Pir) and Ismail Siddique, popularly known as Bagh Hazarika.

The organisation alleged that the Chief Minister’s comments were an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing land rights struggle of the Karbi community, particularly in Karbi Anglong.

It further accused the Chief Minister of presenting varying narratives across Upper, Middle, and Lower Assam, claiming that references to historical figures were being selectively used for political purposes.

Speaking to the media, Arif Uddin Ahmed, General Secretary of the Sadou Asom Goria-Moria-Desi-Jatiya Parishad, said the recent remarks had caused deep concern among the indigenous Assamese Muslim community.

“The Chief Minister’s description of Bagh Hazarika as a fictional character and his reaction to Ajan Faqir’s teachings have deeply hurt us. In the past, he spoke positively about both figures and acknowledged their historical importance. This sudden shift in his position is disturbing,” Ahmed said.

He added that the Chief Minister’s changing stance in different regions of the state had raised questions about consistency in leadership.

“From Upper Assam to Lower Assam, his narrative keeps changing. Such inconsistency creates confusion and undermines public trust,” he said.

Questioning the Chief Minister’s emphasis on the ‘protection of civilisation’, Ahmed said the issue must be viewed in the context of present-day realities.

“If the Chief Minister is truly committed to protecting civilisation, he must address what is happening in Karbi Anglong. Karbi people are fighting for their land rights, and some have even lost their lives. There are reports of them being branded as outsiders and told to leave their land. These issues deserve immediate attention,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Parishad noted that in Sixth Schedule–protected Karbi Anglong, the continuing conflict over land rights raised serious questions about governance and justice.

It also expressed concern over reports of ‘Go Back’ slogans allegedly being directed at Karbi people, asking whether such incidents aligned with the idea of cultural and civilisational protection advocated by the Chief Minister.

The organisation maintained that invoking historical figures should not be used to create division, and asserted that the real measure of leadership lay in securing land rights and ensuring dignity for the Karbi community in the present.

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