Assam CM blames ‘Miya’ Muslims for hike in vegetable prices

Guwahati (IANS). Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has blamed the ‘Miya’ Muslim community for the high prices of vegetables in the state.

The Chief Minister said, “Rates of vegetables are low in rural areas. However, the prices go up by the time we move to the cities.” He claimed that all sellers are raising rates and most of them are “mia” people.

Sarma said on Thursday evening, “They (Muslims of East Bengal origin) are charging higher prices from the Assamese people. In Guwahati the ‘Miya’ people have taken control of the local vegetable markets.” He said that if an Assamese youth was selling vegetables, he could not charge inflated prices from other Assamese fellow citizens.

Sarma said, “I urge the Assamese youth to come forward. I assure you that I will drive out all the ‘Miya’ Muslim vegetable vendors from the city.”

He further said that most of the people in Assam from cab to bus services now belong to this section (Miya) of the Muslim community.

Miya Muslims are the descendants of migrant Bengali Muslims who lived in the Brahmaputra Valley during the British colonization of Assam in the 20th century.

These migrants came from the Mymensingh, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions of present-day Bangladesh.

The chief minister said, “We have seen recently on Eid, most of the roads in Guwahati were empty as they were celebrating the festival.”

The Chief Minister’s remarks came after All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal said that the Assamese community is incomplete without the Muslim people.

Ajmal said, “Mia Muslims and Assamese people are like brothers. The state cannot exist without the Muslim community.

Assam has been witnessing a huge hike in the prices of vegetables across the state for the past few days, causing distress to the general public. Many people are questioning the government.