Amid a heightened political and ideological conflict surrounding comments made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding “Miya Muslims,” Sarma defended his government’s stance on illegal immigration by referencing Mahatma Gandhi. He asserted that protecting Assam’s identity and constitutional rights should not be conflated with hatred or communalism. In response to criticism from Gandhi’s great-grandson, Tushar Gandhi, Sarma claimed that the late leader would have sided with the Assamese if he were alive today, citing that Gandhi had previously advocated for Assam’s territorial integrity during the Partition.
Sarma contended that “Bapu” would have supported the Assamese people’s fight against illegal infiltration, stressing that opposing such immigration does not equate to hatred, but is about safeguarding the rights and future of the Assamese. He countered Tushar Gandhi’s assertion that he would be ousted in a government led by Gandhi by stating that in democracies, leadership changes occur through elections rather than intimidation or undermining constitutional authority.
The Chief Minister’s use of the term “Miya” has led to significant backlash from opposition parties and segments of civil society, emphasizing the controversial nature of his commentary. Sarma attempted to validate his stance by referencing Supreme Court observations about concerns over demographic changes in Assam, stating that his words reflect judicial insights rather than political rhetoric. He invoked the 2005 Sarbananda Sonowal case to highlight warnings of a “silent and invidious demographic invasion” affecting Assam’s national security and geographical continuity. In response, Congress member Gaurav Gogoi criticized Sarma for allegedly misusing the Supreme Court’s authority to justify his comments, labeling the Chief Minister’s rhetoric as dishonest and politically divisive. Gogoi called attention to what he termed Sarma’s “deliberate contempt” for presenting executive findings as judicial decrees to support his narrative.