Citizens urge Gauhati High Court to take note of Assam CM’s ‘hate speech’

Citizens urge Gauhati High Court to address Assam CM's hate speech targeting the Bengal-origin Muslim community, seeking justice.

A group of 43 citizens have urged the Gauhati High Court to take suo motu cognisance of “repeated instances of hate speech and constitutional impropriety” by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Justice on Thursday (February 5, 2026), the citizens cited several public statements by the Chief Minister, which, they say, targeted the Bengal-origin Muslim community, commonly known as the ‘Miya’ community.

According to the representation, the remarks go beyond political rhetoric and amount to dehumanisation, collective stigmatisation, and threats of State-backed harassment.

The memorandum highlighted a recent statement attributed to Mr. Sarma in which he allegedly urged people to make members of the community “suffer”, including by underpaying them for their services. The citizens argued that such remarks, coming from the State’s highest executive authority, constitute an incitement to economic discrimination and social humiliation, violating the right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The representation also raised concerns over alleged executive interference in the ongoing process of the Special Revision of the electoral rolls. The Chief Minister is accused of publicly stating that he directed ruling party workers to file objections during the exercise, particularly targeting the Miya community, and of instructing officials to intensify scrutiny.

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