Special Correspondent

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has triggered widespread condemnation after issuing an incendiary and threatening statement against the Muslim community during an election rally in the Indian state. Addressing a campaign gathering in Lakhimpur district, the BJP leader used derogatory language for Bengali-origin Muslims and openly threatened to “break their backbone” if his party returns to power in the upcoming assembly elections.

Observers said the remarks reflect an alarming escalation in anti-Muslim rhetoric, with the chief minister repeatedly targeting the community through provocative and divisive statements. The term used in his speech is widely considered offensive and has been increasingly employed in a derogatory manner in Assam’s political discourse.

Analysts warned that such statements not only deepen communal divisions but also create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among minority communities already facing eviction drives and political marginalization in the state.

The speech has intensified political tensions ahead of elections, with critics calling it a blatant attempt to polarise voters along communal lines for electoral gains. There are growing demands for legal action and accountability, as rights groups express concern over the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of Muslims in India.