Assam

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again courted controversy with his remarks targeting the ‘Miya’ community, a term commonly used in Assam to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims. Despite mounting criticism, the Chief Minister reiterated that as long as he remains in power, people belonging to the Miya community would face “difficulties” and would not be allowed to live peacefully in the state. Speaking to journalists during a government programme in Goalpara, Sarma said that creating pressure was necessary to force such people to leave Assam. “If I remain in Assam, they will face trouble. They cannot live here peacefully. Only when we create problems for them will they be forced to leave the state,” he said. Illegal Immigration AllegationThe Chief Minister des...

A major political controversy has erupted in Assam following strong remarks made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of the electoral rolls in the state. Addressing party workers, the Chief Minister stated that he had asked BJP cadres to submit Form-7 applications—used for deletion of names from voter lists—against members of the “Miya” community. He claimed that nearly five lakh names would be removed from the electoral rolls during the revision process. The statement has triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which has accused the ruling BJP of misusing the voter list revision mechanism for political purposes. During his remarks, Sarma alleged that a section of the “Miya” population consisted of...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday laid the foundation stone of Assam’s second Legislative Assembly building in Dibrugarh, marking a major step toward administrative decentralisation in the state. Addressing a large public gathering, Shah strongly targeted the Congress, accusing it of making announcements without delivery during its years in power. Calling Dibrugarh the “identity of Assam,” Shah said the city had carried the fragrance of Assam tea to the entire nation and the world. “Today, the tea capital of Assam is receiving a new economic and administrative strength,” he said. Praising Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Home Minister reminded the audience that the announcement for the new Assembly building had been made earlier by the Chief Minister and was now being fu...

Guwahati: As the Assam Assembly elections 2026 approach, Congress has roped in Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the Chairperson of its screening committee, signaling a high-profile campaign to challenge the BJP. Ahead of her formal entry, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confidently projected a decisive victory for the BJP and its allies. Addressing a public event in Dimoria, Kamrup Metropolitan district, Sarma claimed that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could secure 103 out of 126 assembly seats in the upcoming elections, slated for March-April 2026. He noted that earlier projections had indicated around 90 seats, but following constituency delimitation, the number has increased by 13–15 seats. Currently, the BJP in Assam is in alliance with three regional parties—th...

A major political controversy has erupted in Assam after a Congress leader reportedly demanded reservation of 48 Assembly seats for the ‘Miya Muslim’ community. The issue has triggered a fierce backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused the Congress of pursuing divisive politics and undermining Assam’s indigenous identity. Reacting strongly, Assam BJP spokesperson Kamal Kumar Medhi alleged that the Congress is attempting to polarise society by promoting sectarian demands. He termed the proposal a “dangerous agenda of Islamic radical politics” and claimed it was aimed at weakening the rights and political representation of Assam’s indigenous communities. BJP Accuses Congress of Abandoning Nationalist Legacy Medhi launched a scathing attack on the Congr...

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has sparked controversy with his remarks on the voting patterns of the Muslim community in the state. Speaking on a television program, Sarma claimed that regardless of government incentives or financial schemes, Muslim voters in Assam will not support him. Referring to Bihar’s recent women-focused welfare scheme, where ₹10,000 was provided to 21 lakh women voters, Sarma said, “Even if I offer ₹1 lakh, not a single Muslim voter will choose me.” When asked to clarify, he specified that he was referring to the “Miya Muslim” community. He added that while some members of this community have praised his work—even offering to donate kidneys in support—they would never vote for him. Voters Choose Ideology Over BenefitsThe Chief Minister em...