Himanta Biswa Sarma: Talking about 'Hindus' doesn't mean targeting 'Muslims'

Assam Chief Minister and BJP co-in-charge of Jharkhand, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on November 2 said that his remarks regarding infiltrators in India were being misinterpreted. Responding to criticism, he posed a rhetorical question during a public address: “Why complain against me? What am I saying? Why are they hurt when I speak against infiltrators?”

Sarma said that his words are not intended to target any specific religious group, saying, “Talking about Hindus doesn't mean targeting Muslims. I don’t even utter the word - Muslim.” His clarification seeks to defuse tensions that often arise from debates surrounding national identity and security.

Earlier, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday hit out at his Assam counterpart, alleging that the identity of Jharkhand tribes in the northeastern state was being erased by not according them Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Addressing an election rally at Tapkara in Khunti district, Soren expressed concerns for a large number of people with roots in Jharkhand who have been residing in the tea gardens of Assam, highlighting their poor living conditions.

"The chief minister of Assam pretends to be a well-wisher of the tribals here. But he has erased the identity of Jharkhand tribes in the northeastern state by not providing them Scheduled Tribe (ST) status," Soren alleged.

Barely two weeks after Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to Sarma claiming the marginalization of tea tribes despite their significant contributions to the economy, the Jharkhand government approved the formation of a committee to study their plight during a cabinet meeting chaired by Soren.

"Tribals from Jharkhand were taken to other places such as Assam and Andaman and Nicobar by the British. Their number is about 15 to 20 lakh and they are fighting for their rights. It is known that tribals are working in Assam tea gardens but they have not been given ST status so far and are debarred from the welfare schemes meant for them," Soren said.

"Our government invites all original inhabitants to return to Jharkhand. We will form a committee to study this problem under the Minister for Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Minority and Backward Class Welfare Department. All-party representation will be there. They will go to those places, study their problems related to housing, jobs, rights, etc. Based on the committee's recommendations, the state will introduce welfare measures," Soren told reporters after the meeting.