Himanta Biswa Sarma Says Mahatma Gandhi Would Support Assam’s Fight Against Illegal Immigration
admin 
Guwahati (Assam), January 31:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that Mahatma Gandhi would have supported the Assamese people’s fight against illegal immigration if he were alive today.
According to the Chief Minister, protecting Assam’s identity and rights does not promote hatred. Instead, he described it as the duty of an elected government.
The Chief Minister made the statement while responding to a social media post by Tushar Gandhi.
“If Bapu were alive today, he would have stood with the Assamese people. In fact, history shows that his intervention once saved Assam from becoming part of Pakistan,” Sarma wrote on X.
Furthermore, Sarma stressed that democratic governments change only through elections. Therefore, he rejected attempts to remove an elected Chief Minister through pressure or intimidation.
Controversy Over ‘Miya Muslims’ Remark
Meanwhile, criticism has grown over Sarma’s remarks on “Miya Muslims,” a term linked to illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
However, Sarma clarified that he did not invent the term. Instead, he said the migrant community has used it for years.
Additionally, he stated that his views align with observations made by the Supreme Court of India on illegal migration in Assam.
“This is not my imagination. Rather, the Supreme Court has already raised serious concerns about illegal migration in Assam,” he said.
Supreme Court Warning on Demographic Change
Earlier, the Chief Minister referred to past observations that warned about demographic changes in Assam. As a result, he said unchecked migration could threaten the region’s identity and security.
Moreover, Sarma added that raising such concerns should not be labelled as communal or hateful.
Congress Responds
On the other hand, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the Assam CM. He accused Sarma of misusing the Supreme Court’s name.
According to Gogoi, the quoted language did not come directly from the apex court. Consequently, he claimed that presenting an executive report as a judicial statement was misleading.
Earlier, Tushar Gandhi also criticised Sarma and accused the Chief Minister of making divisive remarks.
Political Debate Continues in Assam
Overall, the issue has sparked fresh political debate in Assam. At the same time, illegal immigration and identity remain key topics in state politics. As the situation develops, reactions from both sides continue to emerge.
About The Author
