State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday made the announcement that he doesn’t want to become an MLA with Miya community votes (Bangladesh origin).
Speaking to the media, the NEDA convener said, “Assam Muslim population is divided into two-stream, one who has come to Assam from Bangladesh and the other is indigenous. So some people who came to Assam from Bangladesh at different point of time. They have started identifying themselves as ‘Miya’ and these so-called Miya people are very communal and fundamental and also involved in various activities to distort Assamese culture and language. So, I don’t want to be an MLA with their votes and I am saying this very frankly. I will be morally destroyed and will not be able to show my face in the Assembly if they vote for me.”
“Whenever I speak about Miya outside Assam people generally misunderstand and start generalizing Miyas with the Muslim. People must understand that we are not against the Muslim community who are indigenous and believe in Assamese composite culture.
Bharatiya Janata Party will give party tickets to the Muslim community but we will not give any tickets to those who claim themselves as a Miya in the ‘context of Assam’.
In Gujarat, ‘Miya’ is a very respectable word, however, in Assam, the word ‘Miya’ is used by a particular section of people who wants to challenge our identity, our culture.” the minister further added.
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