Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma intensified his criticism of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya or USTM, likening the varsity’s architecture to ‘Mecca’, a site of significant religious importance in Islam. This remark follows his previous accusations of the university’s role in causing what he termed “flood jihad.”
Himanta Sarma, who earlier blamed the university’s construction activities for flash floods in Guwahati, criticised the domed design of the university’s main gate. He suggested that the architecture symbolised ‘jihad’ and undermined educational values.
The university, located in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district, is operated by a foundation established by Mahbubul Hoque, a Bengali Muslim who serves as its chancellor. CM Himanta’s comments focused on the three domes atop the university’s entrance.
“It’s embarrassing to go there, you have to go under ‘Mecca’. What we are saying is that there should be a namghar (community prayer hall) also there. Mecca-Medina, church. Make all three… They have kept a ‘Mecca’ there. Let them make a namghar, make a church. We will walk under all three, why will we walk under just one,” The Indian Express quoted Himanta Sarma.
He accused the university administration of engaging in what he described as the “father of jihad” and compared his current statements to those made by former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who had previously blamed Jorabat for Guwahati’s flood issues.
“When I spoke about Meghalaya University of Science and Technology, everyone criticised me. But earlier, Tarun Gogoi had said that Jorabat is the main reason for floods in Guwahati,” stated the Assam CM.
He questioned why the hills were cut towards Guwahati rather than Meghalaya, dubbing this act as “flood jihad.”
Last week, the CM shared satellite images of the Greater Jorabat Hills in Meghalaya on X, stating, “After the recent flash floods in Guwahati, we have gone through satellite images of Meghalaya’s Greater Jorabat Hills, located 6 to 7 km from the city. The deforestation where USTM University is located is self-explanatory. But my concern is not just the area near USTM. Below is a time-lapse video of the destruction in other regions of the Greater Jorabat Hills in Meghalaya. It also explains how a cloud burst here leads to rapid floods in Guwahati, like the one recently. We will work with Meghalaya Government to protect our shared habitats.”
