Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has rejected claims branding his government as anti Muslim. He said his role focuses on governing Assam and advancing his administration’s stated ideology, not addressing perceptions formed outside the state.
Speaking to India Today NE, Sarma responded to a national narrative portraying him as hostile toward Muslims. He said critics often confuse his stance against illegal Bangladeshi migrants, whom he described as Miyas, with hostility toward Indian Muslims. He said no obligation exists to explain this distinction to those holding fixed views. He added his responsibility lies with Assam and with national interest.
Sarma urged observers to judge his administration through outcomes on the ground. He said visitors should assess how policies serve poor and marginalized communities across the state. He pointed to several government decisions aimed at welfare, including measures impacting Muslim women.
Referring to the state decision to ban polygamy, Sarma said the move received strong approval within sections of the Muslim community. He stated Muslim women expressed happiness after the policy took effect. He presented this as evidence of governance focused on social reform and women’s rights.
The chief minister reiterated he does not seek to change opinions held by critics who view his government through a hostile lens. He said such perceptions fall outside his remit. He again invited observers to visit Assam and examine administrative work directly.
Sarma’s remarks underline his effort to frame governance around policy delivery and ideological clarity. He positioned performance and local impact as the primary measures of leadership, while distancing his office from national political narratives centered on identity.
