Opposition parties in Assam have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of inciting communal tension and promoting enmity on the grounds of religion and race.
On Wednesday, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the general secretary of the United Opposition Forum Assam (UOFA), filed the complaint at the Dispur police station.
Gogoi was accompanied by leaders from the 18-party alliance, which includes parties aligned with the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
The FIR alleges that Sarma, who has been in office since May 2021, has been attempting to exacerbate communal tensions by targeting specific communities, potentially leading to riot-like situations across the state.
The opposition claims Sarma's actions are part of a broader conspiracy to incite unrest.
"We are lodging this FIR against Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for trying to foster enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion and race," read the FIR, which was subsequently shared with the media.
However, police have stated that while the complaint has been received, no case has been registered yet.
The complaint draws on recent controversies, including the alleged gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Dhing, which has led to widespread condemnation and protests.
The UOFA contends that Sarma's rhetoric has inflamed communal sentiments, resulting in violence against religious minorities in Sivasagar, allegedly perpetrated by BJP workers and leaders.
The opposition parties accuse Sarma of orchestrating these attacks as part of a deliberate strategy to create communal unrest.
They have also highlighted past incidents where Sarma reportedly made provocative statements against a particular community.
Notably, a year ago, Sarma allegedly urged the expulsion of Bengali-speaking Muslims, referred to pejoratively as ‘Miya’, from Guwahati.
In addition to the FIR, the UOFA has demanded that President and Governor intervene to remove Sarma from his position, citing a series of "communal and unconstitutional" statements made by the Chief Minister.
They argue that Sarma’s statements and actions are designed to incite conflict between communities.
The FIR also notes a troubling instance where Sarma allegedly targeted a journalist with "communal innuendos" and accused a community of land encroachment by allegedly forcing original inhabitants to leave by deliberately consuming beef.
"The aggressive nature of the accused is evident from his recent claim in a party meeting, where he likened himself to a 'mad dog'. Such inflammatory behaviour poses a serious risk of creating riot-like conditions for political gain," the FIR alleges.
The UOFA has also announced plans to petition the Supreme Court for a thorough investigation into Sarma and his family’s "unaccounted" assets, seeking judicial scrutiny of their financial dealings.
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