Guwahati, 02 November (HS): The Assam Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the “Miya forces,” long known for their anti-Assam activities, are once again becoming active in the state under the protection and encouragement of the Congress and its allied groups.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s state headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, BJP spokespersons Brajen Mahanta and Pranjal Kalita said that in recent weeks, nighttime gatherings of Miya individuals have been observed at Zubeen Khetra in Sonapur, with people reportedly arriving there by buses from various parts of the state.

The BJP attributed this resurgence to provocative remarks made by Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi during a massive Miya convention held at Jania in Barpeta district on October 30. The party also accused Congress state president and MP Gaurav Gogoi, AJP chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi, and Akhil Gogoi of openly encouraging divisive and anti-Assam activities.

The BJP further alleged that Gaurav Gogoi violated government SOPs during his visit to Zubeen Khetra on October 24. Referring to the rendition of the Bangladesh national anthem at a Congress rally in Sribhumi on October 28 and the anti-Assam remarks of Karnataka Congress president and minister Priyank Kharge, the BJP said that the silence of Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad and left-wing opposition parties over these issues has emboldened the Miya elements in the state.

According to the BJP, Congress-backed Miya supporters have started infiltrating BJP meetings to create disturbance and disorder.

The BJP also accused Congress of politicizing the tragic death of celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg to create unrest. Despite Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s assurance that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) would submit its report by December 17, Gaurav Gogoi continues to indulge in “cheap political theatrics,” the BJP said.

The party stated that while the Chief Minister has been continuously launching development schemes and inaugurating key infrastructure projects to strengthen Assam’s socio-economic framework, Congress has been deliberately resorting to distraction tactics by raising irrelevant and sensational issues to mislead the public.

Highlighting the government’s eviction drives against illegal encroachments on public land — widely supported by the people of Assam — the BJP said such initiatives aim to secure the state’s future generations. The Congress, it alleged, is trying to divert attention from these efforts through “reckless and baseless” comments.

Taking a jibe at Gaurav Gogoi, the BJP pointed out that he even mispronounced the title of late singer Zubeen Garg’s film “Roi Roi Binale” as “Rai Rai Binaloi.” His comments on the singer’s death were termed “uninformed and absurd.” The BJP further said that Gogoi’s criticism of Chief Minister Sarma’s decision to conduct a second post-mortem in Guwahati — done out of respect for public sentiment and the Garg family’s wishes — was both unwarranted and in poor taste.--------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash