Hate speech by elected officials targeting a specific population has been linked to ethnic conflicts and crimes, perhaps leading to disastrous results. Even while politicians in India are aware of the dangers of hate speech, some nevertheless use it to advance their cause. Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, serves as an example. The BJP politician continues to make discriminatory remarks about minority communities in the state.
On Tuesday, he stated that he would discriminate against “Miya Muslims,” referring to the minority Bengali Muslim population, and would not allow them to travel to Upper Assam. These comments were made during a discussion on law and order following a gangrape of a minor in Dhing. During the 2024 general election, Mr. Sarma repeatedly used divisive language to target Muslims, with no response from the Election Commission of India. He even stated that “Islamophobia is real for many of us [Hindus]”.
Mr. Sarma’s repeated utterances contradict his oath as Chief Minister to uphold India’s secular Constitution. He should be chastised for openly opposing a specific community. The speaker’s support for parties threatening a community to leave “Upper Assam” and implying that the minority population lacks the right to free movement contributes to a climate of hatred in a state plagued by ethnic conflict.
Assam has seen various problems, including violent anti-immigrant agitations, militancy, and a flawed process of identifying “foreigners” that has caused hardship for the poor. Some of these difficulties are still ongoing. Instead of promoting reconciliation, harmony, and peace, he intentionally creates division to benefit from hate politics. The use of hate speech against a minority community can lead to tragic consequences, as demonstrated by the situation of the Rohingya in Myanmar.
The Union government and BJP leadership have failed to hold the Chief Minister accountable. Mr. Sarma engages in hate speech against Muslims, unlike other party officials who have faced criticism for targeting specific groups, such as farmers. To improve Assamese people’s HDI indicators, the government must eliminate hate speech as it hinders overall growth.
