Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that “four to five lakh Miya voters” could be removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and urged people to “trouble” the community, including underpaying them, remarks that drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
Speaking to reporters in Digboi, Tinsukia district, Sarma used the term “Miya” to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam and said it was his responsibility to cause hardship to the community. He specifically cited examples of underpaying rickshaw fares, saying: “In a rickshaw, if the fare is Rs 5, give them Rs 4… only if they face troubles will they leave Assam.”
Sarma added that complaints against Miya voters had been submitted on his instructions and that efforts to create “utpaat” (disturbances) would remain within the law.
Opposition leaders condemned the comments. Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi said voters had not elected Sarma “to keep the Miya community under constant pressure.” Congress leader Aman Wadud accused the chief minister of undermining the constitution in Assam.
The remarks came as Assam undergoes a Special Revision of electoral rolls. Draft rolls released on Dec. 27 show 2.51 crore voters after updates removed deceased, shifted, and duplicate entries, with verification covering over 61 lakh households.