Correspondent
Controversy Erupts as Assam CM Accuses Muslims of Inflating Vegetable Prices.
Mufti took to Twitter to convey her concerns regarding Sarma's remarks. In her tweet, she stated, "Assam CM blaming Muslims for crippling price rise shows BJP's utter failure on unemployment, inflation, and lack of development. Himanta Biswa is openly urging Hindus to forcibly take away even their meager forms of livelihood – vegetable vendors and kirana shops." She also highlighted the apparent discrepancy in the response of the judiciary, pointing out that while they swiftly acted against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for questioning corruption, they remained silent on Sarma's provocative statements.
Sarma made these remarks when responding to reporters' questions about the high prices of vegetables in Guwahati. He stated, "Vegetables are not priced so high in villages. Here, the Miya vendors charge us more. Had it been Assamese vendors selling vegetables, they would not have fleeced their own people." It's worth noting that the term "Miya" is considered derogatory and refers to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, although some individuals have reclaimed it as a symbol of resistance.
Opposition parties in Assam strongly criticized Sarma's comments, accusing him of playing communal politics. They condemned his statements and emphasized the importance of responsible leadership that fosters harmony rather than division.