Police Complaint Filed Against Assam CM Over Remarks on ‘Miya Muslims’

A police complaint has been filed against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his recent public remarks referring to Bengali-speaking Muslims as “Miya,” triggering sharp criticism from legal experts and human rights activists.

The complaint was lodged by peace and justice activist and writer Harsh Mander at the Hauz Khas police station in New Delhi, following statements made by Sarma on January 27 during an official programme in Digboi, Tinsukia district. According to the complaint, the remarks amount to hate speech and encourage harassment, discrimination and disenfranchisement of a specific community.

Mander has sought the registration of an FIR under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including sections related to promoting enmity between groups, acts prejudicial to national integration, deliberate attempts to outrage religious feelings, and statements likely to disturb public order. He has also called for a prompt and impartial investigation, especially in the context of Assam’s ongoing special revision of electoral rolls.

The issue has also drawn the attention of former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Govind Mathur, who warned that remarks which spread fear, exclusion or hatred could amount to undermining the foundational values of the Indian Republic.

According to the complaint, Sarma openly admitted to directing party workers to file objections against Bengali-speaking Muslims during the voter list revision process. He reportedly claimed that four to five lakh “Miya” voters would be removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and asserted that his government was “directly against” the community.

At the Digboi event, Sarma allegedly urged people to “trouble” members of the community, stating that hardship would force them to leave Assam. He also said it was his responsibility to ensure that they could not vote in the state, comments that have sparked widespread outrage on social media.

While the Election Commission is currently conducting SIR in several states and Union Territories, Assam is undergoing a Special Revision (SR), a process distinct from SIR. Despite this, Sarma indicated that a future SIR in Assam would lead to large-scale deletion of votes belonging to Bengali-speaking Muslims, appearing dismissive of criticism from political opponents.

The complaint argues that such statements threaten communal harmony, public order and the constitutional rights of the affected population, including their right to vote and livelihood. It further alleges that the remarks amount to incitement to discrimination and hostility against a religious and linguistic minority.

Mander noted that the gravity of the situation is heightened by the fact that the statements were made by a sitting chief minister at an official event, giving them the weight of state authority. He warned that such rhetoric could embolden unlawful actions by both government officials and private individuals.

As of now, there is no official confirmation on whether the police have acted on the complaint or registered an FIR.

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