Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated BJP does not need
the votes of ‘Miya’ people of ‘char’ (riverine sandbar) areas for the next 10
years, till they reform themselves by leaving aside practices such as child
marriage.
CM Himanta, however, said the ‘Miya’ people support him, PM
Narendra Modi and the BJP, and they can continue to shout slogans in favour of
the saffron brigade without voting for them.
“BJP will do public welfare and they will support us, but they don’t
need to vote for us. There is no harm in supporting us. Let them shout ‘zindabad’
for Himanta Biswa Sarma, Narendra Modi and BJP,” he told reporters in response
to a question.
The term ‘Miya’ is a slang used to refer to migrant Muslims from
Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister said, “When elections come, I myself will
request them not to vote for us. When you will follow family planning, stop
child marriage and shed fundamentalism, then you vote for us.”
“To complete these, it will take 10 years. We will seek votes after
10 years, not now.”
He said those voting in favour of him and the BJP should not have
more than two or three children, must send their daughters to schools, cannot
indulge in child marriage and adopt Sufism by leaving fundamentalism.
“When these conditions are fulfilled, I will go with you to ‘char’
to seek votes,” remarked CM Himanta.
When pointed out that many ‘chars’, where predominantly
Bengali-speaking Muslims live, do not have proper schools, he said immediately
schools would be set up if he is informed about the non-existence of a school
in such an area.
“It can’t happen that minority students won’t get a chance to
study. We will open seven colleges in minority areas in the coming days,” assured
the Assam CM.
PTI
