INDIA Bloc files complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma over ‘inflammatory’ remarks in Jharkhand, he replies

INDIA block leaders on Saturday filed a complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jharkhand, accusing the BJP leader of delivering “inflammatory and divisive” speeches at a recent election rally in the stands.

During his speech on November 1 in Sarath, the BJP leader stated, “Those people will vote at one place, but our Hindus will vote half here and half there.” He also noted: “This government invites infiltrators because a special community will vote for them.”

Referring to these comments, the INDIA Bloc said in a letter to the CEO: “His use of extremely divisive and hateful language targeting Muslim minorities” is an example of the “toxic language used to create a civil war-like situation to create and incite violence in the upcoming parliamentary elections.”

The complaint also highlighted other controversial statements Sarma is said to have made on various occasions.

“He deliberately portrays all members of a particular religious minority as infiltrators to exploit and deepen existing social divisions for political gain, create communal tensions and disrupt the social fabric of Jharkhand for electoral gains,” the letter said.

The INDIA bloc has also submitted recordings of Sarma alleging that Hemant Soren’s government in Jharkhand was supporting Bengali infiltrators.

“This dangerous tactic not only undermines the democratic process but also violates the fundamental structure of our Constitution and contradicts several judicial decisions and Supreme Court judgments against hate speech,” the INDIA bloc leaders said.

Sarma, however, responded by questioning why the INDIA bloc was filing complaints against him for talking about infiltrators.

“Why complain to me? What am I saying? Why are they hurt when I speak to infiltrators? Where is it written, in which law, that it is wrong to speak against infiltrators?” asked the Chief Minister of Assam.

He further stated, “Talking about Hindus does not mean targeting Muslims. I don’t even mention the word ‘Muslim’. India is a Hindu civilization, and talking about its protection is a positive thing…”

Meanwhile, BSP leader Kushwaha Shivpujan Mehta, who is contesting from Hussainabad seat, has filed a separate complaint in the court against Sarma for allegedly disrupting communal harmony.

At an election rally in Hussainabad, Sarma had said that the sub-division in Palamu district would become a district if the BJP comes to power after the Assembly elections and would be named after Lord Ram or Krishna.

The Assembly elections in Jharkhand are expected to be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, during which 81 MLAs will be elected.