Assam’s Chief Executive, Himanta Biswa Sarma, stirred controversy with his assertion that the BJP could thrive for a decade without the backing of ‘Miya’ votes, provided certain societal norms like underage marriage were abandoned. This statement sparked outrage among a segment of the populace, interpreting it as a denial of their very essence.
While Sarma has adopted a more conciliatory stance during the ongoing general elections, making appearances in various Bengali-speaking Muslim locales to garner support for the BJP, community members remain unwilling to overlook and pardon his previous remarks. Ruhul Amin from Dhing, representing the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency, articulated, “You (Sarma) asserted that Miya votes held no significance. Now, realizing that your electoral success hinges on our support, you approach us. Your need for us only surfaces during elections. Why should we extend our support when you’ve shown disdain for us?”
The term ‘Miya’ originally served as a derogatory label for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, often associated by non-Bengali speakers with Bangladeshi immigrants. In recent times, activists within the community have reclaimed this term as an act of defiance.
Amin, a 56-year-old educator turned tailor within the Miya community, highlighted recollections of disparaging remarks made by Sarma and several of his ministerial colleagues since 2021, when the second BJP government assumed power in the state. “They depicted Miya women as mere baby-producing machines. This was deeply offensive to us, particularly the women within our community. While the CM may assert that all Miya women and youth will pledge their votes to him this time, he will soon find himself mistaken,” he added. Earlier this year, Sarma stated that he would abstain from seeking ‘Miya’ votes for the next two years, citing the need to conclude numerous welfare initiatives, such as campaigns against underage marriages and land encroachments.
However, at a campaign rally last month, Sarma tempered his stance, expressing confidence that girls, women, and youths from the ‘Miya’ community would support the BJP owing to the positive strides made in their upliftment. With an electorate of approximately 18.2 lakhs, the Nagaon constituency boasts over 10.5 lakh Muslim voters post-delimitation. Voting in Nagaon is slated for the second phase on April 26.
Incumbent Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi vies for a second term in Lok Sabha, facing a direct challenge from his former ally Suresh Bora, who defected from Congress to BJP around three months ago. While Amin acknowledged the government’s efforts to combat underage marriage, promote female education, and uphold fair recruitment processes, he viewed these actions as duties incumbent upon any state.
“It is often assumed that Miya people lag behind and remain oblivious to the country’s affairs, but this is fallacious. There is concern that a BJP-led administration could lead to a scenario akin to Myanmar, curtailing the freedoms enjoyed by minority groups such as Muslims and Christians,” he added.
Mousumi Begum, a sixth-semester BA student from the Miya community residing in the Beltoli area near Nagaon town, asserted that a majority of youths from the community harbor reservations against casting their votes for the ruling party candidate. “We lack faith in them and their promises. Since coming into power, they have targeted Muslims. Youth oppose the demolition of madrassas and mosques under the pretext of eviction,” she added.
The philosophy student at Nagaon College refuted the government’s assertion that madrassas exclusively impart religious education, noting that modern subjects are also part of the curriculum as per state board guidelines. “The Citizenship (Amendment) Act remains a contentious issue among youths. Additionally, Muslim girls oppose the abolition of the triple talaq system, which provided an avenue for women to exit marriages if they chose to. Now, such separations will become arduous,” Begum remarked.
Ikramul Hussain from Rupahi observed that the Chief Minister is fostering an illusion that all minorities, particularly the Miya community, will turn out in large numbers to vote in the Lok Sabha polls. “Miya people remain largely reticent. They attend BJP gatherings in droves, dancing alongside the CM. However, they harbor no intentions of voting for the BJP. While commendable initiatives have been undertaken for the community, derogatory statements by Sarma and his ministers have deeply wounded us,” he stated.
Hussain, a farmer, insurance agent, and proprietor of a pharmacy, noted that members of the minority community refrain from openly expressing their opinions for fear of reprisal post-election, given the BJP’s continued governance in the state. “People understand that promises of financial assistance are merely election ploys. Moreover, the perennial issues of floods and erosion in the Nagaon-Morigaon region remain unaddressed,” he added. Conversely, farmer Abdul Gafar from Laogaon village estimated that 25-30% of Muslims may extend their support to the BJP, though the figure would be even lower within the Miya community.
“While there is support for the abolition of underage marriage and emphasis on education, memories of the evictions in Gorukhuti and Char areas linger. These incidents have dampened BJP’s electoral prospects in Miya-dominated regions,” he concluded. In September 2021, approximately 1,200-1,400 houses, predominantly owned by Bengali-speaking Muslims, were demolished in Dhalpur of Gorukhuti, rendering over 7,000 individuals homeless.
Local markets, mosques, graveyards, madrassas, and religious libraries were also razed. The eviction drive culminated in two fatalities due to police gunfire, including a 12-year-old boy who had recently obtained his first form of identification, an Aadhaar card, before tragically losing his life.