Barpeta (Assam), April 3 AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday claimed that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has threatened to "break the backbone" of the "Miya community" and asserted that nobody can eliminate Muslims from the state.
Addressing an election rally at the Chenga constituency in support of the incumbent MLA and AIUDF candidate, Ashraful Hussain, the Hyderabad MP launched a scathing attack on Sarma and reminded him of maintaining the dignity of the chief minister's office.
"I want to remind Sarma that you are a chief minister. Therefore, you should use a language that befits a CM. Remember, if you have a voice, I have one too, and my words are capable of silencing yours," Owaisi said.
"You speak of threats, you speak of breaking our backbone and making our lives miserable. Muslims have lived in Assam for over 150 years. No one can destroy this presence. As long as this world exists, Muslims here will remain secure," the AIMIM chief asserted.
"Miya" is originally a derogatory term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, and non-Bengali-speaking people generally identify them as Bangladeshi immigrants.
In recent years, activists from the community have started adopting the term as a gesture of defiance.
During election campaign meetings, Sarma said, "In the last five years, we broke the hands and legs of Miyas. In the next five years, we will break their backbone. We will not allow them to live peacefully in Assam. We will create such a situation that they will not be able to live in peace."
Reacting to this, Owaisi said, "You cannot intimidate us. If you wish to target us, name any place in Assam. (AIUDF chief) Badruddin Ajmal and I will both go there."
He warned the government against taking any oppressive measures against the poor people of Assam.
"Why are you torturing the impoverished? Remember, when a sigh escapes the lips of the oppressed, it reaches Allah directly. Fear the prayers of the poor. To those who commit atrocities, your political downfall is certain," the Lok Sabha MP said.
He appealed to the people to vote for AIUDF candidates to protect the rights of the Muslim community.
The AIMIM has not fielded any candidate in the Assam assembly elections and is supporting the AIUDF.
Elections to Assam's 126 assembly constituencies will be held on April 9, and votes will be counted on May 4.
