I DON’T WANT Miya votes,we live in harmony:Assam CM Himanta Biswa sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the BJP does not need votes from the Bengali-origin Muslim community in Assam -- often colloquially referred to as 'Miya' Muslims.

Speaking at the 19th edition of the India Today Conclave 2021, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "I don't want Miya votes, we live in harmony I don't go to them for votes, and they also don't come to me."

Himanta Biswa Sarma said many people in the state believe immigrant Muslims are the root cause why Assam has lost identity, culture and land. Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that there was no community-based politics in Assam.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said encroachment was taking place because immigrant Muslims were producing in large numbers. "Many Assamese people think this way. This process started before Independence. I am carrying this burden of history with me," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Clashes broke out in Sipajhar's Dholpur 3 village last month as thousands protested against the government's eviction drive against "illegal encroachers". Two civilians had died in police firing. At least 12 others, including a policeman, were



injured.

A viral video showing an injured person being beaten by policemen and stomped upon by another civilian as he lay motionless on the ground led to national outrage. The civilian was later arrested.

"There is no hate narrative in Assam. We evicted them because there is land of 77,000 acres. 1,000 families cannot occupy this land. Our policy is that one family cannot occupy land more than 2 acres. We have to give land to many people. We have to evict people if they encroach upon land. Eviction is a continuous process. Local Assamese people are also being evicted. No communalisation on this," Sarma said.

Speaking on the Assam government's drive against drugs, Himanta Biswa Sarma said per day recovery of narcotics was around Rs 2 crore. In his first 100 days as chief minister, the government has arrested 2,000 smugglers and 500 land brokers.

"We are going heavily against drug peddlers. We burnt rhino horns to bust the myth that they do not have medicinal value. We have digitised land records and signed a peace accord with tribal people. Assam is on the road of development. In the next five years, Assam will be one of the top states in India," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.