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The political landscape in Assam has taken a sharp turn, with the Congress-led United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) filing a First Information Report (FIR) against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for alleged hate speech and attempts to incite communal tensions. This move follows accusations that the Chief Minister has been exploiting a recent gang rape case in Dhing to target a particular religious community, sparking fear and violence in other parts of the state.
The UOFA, a coalition of 11 political parties, including the CPI, CPI(M), and the Raijor Dal, claims that Sarma's rhetoric has a history of targeting a specific religious minority. They cite instances where he used derogatory terms and made inflammatory statements about the 'Miyas', a pejorative term for Muslims of Bengali origin. The opposition accuses him of inciting fear and prejudice, creating an atmosphere of distrust and potential violence among different communities in the state.
The Congress president, Bhupen Kumar Borah, and the AJP counterpart, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who filed the FIR, assert that Sarma's actions are detrimental to communal harmony and threaten the peace of Assam. They express concern about the potential for his words to fuel violence and division within the state's diverse population. They have even gone as far as calling for the removal of Sarma as Chief Minister, claiming his actions undermine the principles of social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
However, Sarma maintains his innocence, asserting that his focus is on maintaining peace and harmony within the state. He defends his actions, citing a planned white paper on demographic changes in Assam, which he believes will shed light on the challenges posed by the changing population dynamics. He argues that the demographic shifts, specifically the growth of the Muslim population, necessitate a deeper understanding of the potential consequences and challenges for the state's social fabric.
Despite Sarma's claims, the opposition remains unconvinced and accuses him of using this demographic argument as a tool to further his divisive agenda. They believe that his actions and rhetoric are aimed at polarizing communities and creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion. The FIR filed against him represents a strong statement of their opposition to his approach and a demand for accountability for his alleged hate speech.
The situation in Assam underscores the complex and sensitive issues related to religious minorities, demographic shifts, and the role of political leaders in shaping social discourse. The FIR filed against the Chief Minister is a testament to the growing tensions and concerns surrounding these issues, with the opposition demanding action against what they perceive as a blatant attempt to incite communal disharmony and violence.
Source: Assam Opposition forum files FIR against CM for ‘promoting enmity’