30-Jan-2026

In today’s India, hate speeches and hurling abuses on other communities have become the new normal because this perhaps is seen as the shortest route to electoral successes. This, however, may be true of grassroots political workers, but Himanta Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, the largest state in the northeast region, saying the ‘Miyas” (Muslims) must be continuously troubled in some way or the other, is unacceptable. It is most unbecoming of a Chief Minister, who, after all, is a father figure to every citizen in his state, irrespective of their community or religious affiliations. He even went to the extent of saying that “If you are travelling with a Muslim rickshaw puller, and the fare is Rs 5, pay him Rs 4 so that he gets cheesed off.” He also said that the Muslim could vote in Bangladesh and not in Assam. Despicable!!!

What message is he trying to convey to the common people? Forcibly chase away the Muslims from their localities? Does he want disturbed and divided Assam so that he continues to exploit the situation to win elections? One wishes that people would speak out against such narratives, which are tonic for disharmony.