Assam CM cites Supreme Court observations to defend ‘Miya’ remarks

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday (January 29, 2026), defended his remarks on the term ‘Miya’, saying they were grounded in observations made by the Supreme Court rather than political or communal considerations.

In a post on social media platform X, he said that his critics should revisit the apex court’s findings on illegal migration in Assam, clarifying that the term was locally used in the context of undocumented Bangladeshi Muslim migration. He maintained that his comments reflected judicial concerns expressed years ago about the scale and impact of the issue.

“This is not my language, not my imagination, and not political exaggeration. These are the court’s own words,” he wrote, citing the Supreme Court’s warning of a “silent and invidious demographic invasion of Assam”.

He noted the court’s observation that continued illegal migration could lead to the loss of the “geo-strategically vital districts of lower (western) Assam”, potentially turning them into Muslim-majority areas and triggering demands for merger with Bangladesh.

The court had cautioned that such a development could sever the northeastern region from the rest of India and threaten national unity and natural resources.

Mr. Sarma said acknowledging these warnings could not be termed communal or hateful, stressing that the State’s actions were aimed at protecting Assam’s identity, security and future, and not at targeting any religion or Indian citizen.