Guwahati, August 29: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced plans to file an FIR against Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), accusing him of “wrongfully obtaining” an Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificate in 1992. This development marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between the state government and Hoque, a Bengali-Muslim from Assam, reported The Indian Express.
Over the past few weeks, CM Sarma has openly criticised the university and its chancellor, starting with allegations that Hoque was responsible for the recent flash floods in Guwahati. According to Sarma, the floods were caused by deforestation and hill-cutting for construction activities on the university’s campus, which is situated on the outskirts of Guwahati in the hills descending from Meghalaya. He further accused Hoque of engaging in what he termed “flood jihad.”
Sarma has called upon students and staff from Assam to boycott USTM, urging them not to study or work there. The Chief Minister’s actions have been seen as an attempt to discredit the university and its administration, which has a substantial number of Bengali-Muslim students and faculty members.
The proposed FIR revolves around allegations that Hoque, a well-known educational entrepreneur, fraudulently acquired an OBC certificate over three decades ago. However, Hoque and his supporters argue that this is a politically motivated move aimed at targeting him and his institution. They claim that the term “flood jihad” and the allegations surrounding it are baseless and designed to inflame communal tensions.
The conflict has drawn significant attention in Assam, where ethnic and communal tensions often intersect with politics. The Chief Minister’s actions come in the context of his broader agenda, which some critics say is aimed at marginalising the Bengali-Muslim community in Assam.
The unfolding situation raises concerns about the increasing communalisation of educational spaces and the targeting of minority communities. As the state government prepares to take legal action against Hoque, the future of USTM and its students hangs in the balance.
