‘A Life-and-Death Fight for Assam’: Himanta Sarma Stands Firm as ‘Miya’ Row Escalates
The political storm over Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks on the term “Miya” continues to intensify, with the chief minister showing no sign of retreat. Doubling down on his stand, Sarma has described the controversy as a “life-and-death fight for the people of Assam,” framing it as a battle against illegal infiltration rather than a religious or community issue.
Speaking to reporters in Khumtai on Tuesday, Sarma once again targeted the Congress for accusing him of stoking divisions. He reiterated that, in his view, the term “Miya” refers only to Bangladeshi infiltrators and not to Indian or Assamese Muslims.
“Miya means Bangladeshi infiltrators, not genuine Indian Muslims or Assamese Muslims,” Sarma said. “I will fight infiltrators till my last breath. Whatever is needed to drive them out of Assam, I will do. Even if a hundred Gaurav Gogois or a thousand Rahul Gandhis come, they cannot stop me.”
Calling the issue existential for the state, he added, “This is a life-and-death fight for Assam.”
His remarks have triggered fresh political backlash. The Congress has accused Sarma of deliberately sharpening his language to polarise voters with the state assembly elections approaching. Senior Congress leaders, including MP Gaurav Gogoi, have alleged that the chief minister is dangerously blurring the line between illegal immigration and identity, risking deeper social divisions in an already sensitive political climate.
The controversy has been further fuelled by Sarma’s admission that BJP workers have been encouraged to file objections during the ongoing electoral roll revision. The Opposition claims this could lead to selective targeting and harassment of voters, an allegation the BJP strongly rejects.
As the debate spills beyond Assam, national leaders and civil society groups have also weighed in, questioning whether governance is being overshadowed by confrontation-driven politics.
The BJP, meanwhile, has closed ranks behind Sarma, insisting the issue is about national security and illegal migration, not religion. Party leaders have accused the Opposition of protecting infiltrators for political convenience.
With elections drawing closer, the “Miya” controversy has evolved into a full-blown political flashpoint one that has come to symbolise a broader battle over identity, migration, and power in Assam, with neither side willing to step back.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
