Guwahati, March 10 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Tuesday that Assamese Muslims are "politically opposed" to Miya Muslims, and a section of the former are now supporting the BJP.
He maintained that Assamese Muslims have, over time, stated that while their religions may be the same, they are culturally distinct from Miya Muslims.
"This time, the Assamese Muslims have made up their minds. That they are a separate community, even though their religion may be the same," Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of an official event here, when asked if the religious minorities would support the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections.
Differentiating between the two groups based on their mother tongue and place of origin, Sarma said, "Politically, the Assamese Muslims are opposed to the Miya Muslims. Many people appear on TV talk shows and say that while their religions may be the same, their cultures are different."
'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 using the term as a gesture of defiance.
Asked if the Assamese Muslims had a problem with the CM referring to the Miyas as 'osinaki manuh' (unknown people), Sarma maintained that "they like it".
He claimed that the Assamese Muslims have extended their support to him by donating money ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 11,000.
"About 50-60 per cent of Assamese Muslims were previously with the Congress. During the Assam Agitation, many shifted their support to the Asom Gana Parishad. And now, a significant number of them are with the BJP," Sarma claimed.
The CM has been making repeated statements in recent days attacking the Miyas, saying that the people from the community will continue to face problems until he remains in power.
A group of public interest litigations (PILs) accusing Sarma of making "hate speech" and "communal comments" against the 'Miya' community were filed before the Gauhati High Court, with the court issuing a notice to the CM and seeking a response before the next date of hearing on April 21.