by Muslim Mirror Staff
Social activist and former IAS officer Harsh Mander has lodged a police complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on charges of abusing his position as a constitutional functionary.
The complaint, filed on July 20, 2023, with the DCP South Delhi and Malviya Nagar Police Station, accuses Sarma of openly calling for state-sponsored prosecution of the Miya community within his constituency.
Mander’s complaint, lodged under Sections 153A and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code, alleges that the Assam Chief Minister’s statements were highly irresponsible and violated the oaths he had taken under the constitution.
The contentious statements made by Sarma claimed that a particular community, referring to the Miya community, was maliciously monopolizing and inflating the prices of essential commodities such as vegetables.
Mander argues that such remarks could fuel enmity between the Miya Muslim community and other Bengali origin Assamese citizens.
Furthermore, the complaint highlights Sarma’s attempts to encourage the youth of Assam to displace Miya Muslims from their livelihoods, suggesting that the state fully supports such actions.
Mander contends that the Chief Minister’s statements were misleading and intended to polarize the youth against the Miya Muslim community, falsely attributing economic and employment distress to them.
Mander’s complaint is not the only one against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Several other complaints have been filed against him for similar statements.
Mander, along with other concerned citizens, appeals to the Delhi police to take prompt action in response to the Chief Minister’s inflammatory remarks.
The controversy surrounding Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statements has sparked debates over freedom of speech, responsible governance, and the need to foster communal harmony.
It is worth noting that the Miya community, a marginalized group in Assam, has faced various challenges, and the recent statements by the Chief Minister have further intensified tensions and concerns over their well-being and social integration.
