Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed on Tuesday that four to five lakh Miyan voters would be removed from the electoral rolls when a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list is conducted in the state. The Assam Chief Minister didn’t stop there; he went on to say that his job is to “harass them (Muslims).”
Speaking to the media, he said he was stealing Muslim votes. Sarma asked a reporter, “What does ‘vote theft’ mean for us? Yes, we are trying to steal some Miyan votes. Ideally, they shouldn’t be allowed to vote in Assam. They should vote in Bangladesh.”
Arrangements have been made to prevent Muslims from voting – Sarma
Himanta Biswa Sarma further stated, “We have made arrangements so that they cannot vote in Assam, but this is just the beginning. When the (Special Intensive Revision) comes to Assam, four to five lakh Miyan votes will have to be removed.”
It’s worth noting that “Miyan” is a derogatory term used in Assam for undocumented immigrants, specifically referring to Muslims of Bengali origin. They are often accused of being undocumented migrants from Bangladesh. Sarma’s repeated use of this term has sparked debate about whether a state’s chief minister can use such language.
SIR is not happening in Assam
Assam is not among the 12 states and Union Territories where the Election Commission is conducting a special intensive revision of the electoral rolls. The Election Commission is conducting a separate special revision of the voter list in the state, which is similar to the regular updates to the voter list.
