Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday hit out at AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi for "weaponising the Miya community" for political gains ahead of the elections in the state on April 9.
He also targeted the Congress, alleging that it had "brought Owaisi" into the fray to influence the poll arithmetic in Assam and mobilise voters from the minority communities.
This is the latest in a series of back-and-forth barbs between CM Sarma and the Hyderabad MP over the Miya community.
While the term was originally used as a pejorative to refer to Bengali-origin Muslims in the state, it is increasingly being reclaimed by activists. Non-Bengali speakers generally identify them as Bangladeshi immigrants.
Owaisi, on the other hand, has used CM Sarma's own strong statements against him, declaring that the community "would not be intimidated".
"Muslims have lived in Assam for over 150 years. No one can destroy this presence,” he said, urging the CM to speak with decency, and adding that he and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal would be willing to visit "any place in Assam” where Miyas were targeted by the ruling BJP-led NDA alliance.
Owaisi had been responding to CM Sarma's earlier comments on "breaking the backbone" of those he called the 'Bangladeshi Miyas' and "not allowing them to live peacefully in Assam".
Notably, Owaisi's presence in the Assam elections is expected to majorly shake up an already charged election, despite the AIMIM choosing to back the AIUDF, instead of stepping into the fray itself.
While his moves are seen as an attempt to pull minority votes—especially those of the Miya community—behind the AIUDF, thus denying them to the Congress, the national party has accused it of serving as the "B-team" of the BJP, alleging that it aims to divide the anti-incumbency votes down the middle.
Owaisi, on the other hand, has denied the 'vote-cutter' allegations, noting that backing the AIUDF was meant to consolidate the minority vote and give the party influence over Assam's new cabinet.
