Himanta Sarma invokes Mahatma Gandhi, says ‘non-cooperation’ against ‘Miyas’ is need of the hour

Assam chief minister Himanta Sarma

• Assam CM Sarma vows to continue action against Bangladeshi infiltrators
• Sarma calls it life-or-death for Assamese, cites Gandhi's methods
• Congress accuses Sarma of polarising voters ahead of assembly elections

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In a clear indication that he will continue his attack against 'Miyas' -- a term that refers to Bangladeshi infiltrators, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, during a public speech in Sivasagar district, invoked Mahatma Gandhi and said that “non-cooperation” and “civil disobedience” were the most effective ways to create an environment “in which they cannot stay in Assam”.

In his latest comments, the chief minister doubled down, calling the issue a "life-and-death fight for the Assamese people."

Speaking at the sidelines of an event in Sivasagar district, the CM said, “Every day, we expel 20 or 30 of them. But we can’t line them up, put them in a train and send them to Bangladesh… Instead of us sending them, there should be arrangements for them to go themselves. Now, we have done evictions on 1.5 lakh bighas of land. They will not get land, so they will have to leave Assam and go…”

"Miya means Bangladeshi infiltrators and not genuine Indian muslims or Assamese Muslims. I will fight infiltrators till death. Whatever is required to send them out of Assam, I will do. Let a hundred Gaurav Gogoi and a thousand Rahul Gandhi come, but they can't stop me from going after infiltrators and driving them out," Sarma remarked.

The Congress has repeatedly accused the Assam CM of deliberately sharpening his language to polarise voters as the assembly election is approaching. Senior leaders, including MP Gaurav Gogoi, have hit out at Sarma, alleging he is blurring the line between infiltration and identity, and risking deeper social divisions in the state.

The BJP, however, is standing firmly behind Sarma. The party insisted this is about national security and illegal migration, not religion, and accused the Opposition of shielding infiltrators for political gain.