BJP does not see ‘Miya’ Muslims as enemies, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the Bharatiya Janata Party does not consider “Miya” Muslims, or Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam, as its enemies but only objects to some alleged practices among sections of the community, The Hindu reported.

“The Miya people are not our enemies,” the BJP leader said, adding that the party’s concerns were about what he described as “love jihad, land encroachment, child marriage and fertiliser jihad [an accusation that farmers of the community use chemicals on the food they grow for mass consumption]”.

He added that the saffron party would not view the community as antagonistic if such matters were addressed, the newspaper reported.

He was responding to a question about whether a “Miya” Muslim could receive a BJP ticket in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, expected to be held in April, India Today NE reported.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Sarma said the party was comfortable with anyone who was “patriotic” and showed support for slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” or “Vande Mataram”, India Today NE reported.

Sarma also outlined the BJP’s electoral strategy in constituencies dominated by Muslims ahead of the Assembly elections.

He said the party planned to contest in a small number of such seats and that candidates would be selected on the basis of their chances of winning rather...

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