Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding his remarks on the ‘Miya’ community, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a fervent appeal on Sunday. Addressing the issue during a Tiffin meeting in Amingaon, CM Sarma urged Assamese youths to focus on revitalizing the state’s work culture rather than engaging in debates.
In his statement, the Chief Minister in Amingaon candidly acknowledged, “We need to accept that work culture of the Assamese community is slowly diminishing for which a particular community has started to have a hold on the financial conditions of the state. Instead of feeling envious, we need to compete with them.”
“Lower Assam especially Guwahati is dependent on Kharupetia for vegetables, however, news reports on various newspapers and channels are suggesting that excessive fertilizers are used in these vegetables. As a result of this, we are infected with diseases related to liver, kidney. Even after being aware of the matter, the Assamese youths refuse to grow their own vegetable in their backyard,” he said.
“They are continuously complaining about the vegetables for the excessive use of fertilizers and price hike and yet they consume it as there is no other way except farming,” the chief minister added.
Faced with complaints about rising vegetable prices and excessive fertilizer usage, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for action beyond mere complaints. He called for united efforts to raise awareness about this pressing issue of farming, transcending political and organizational affiliations.
Local woman’s argument on Miya controversy
In a recent response to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s plan to drive out Bangladeshi Miyas from the state, a woman passionately defended her community, emphasizing their integral role in Assam’s society and economy. Referring to the historical presence of Miyas in Assam, she highlighted that the term “Axom-miya” has been used to describe the people of the state for a long time.
The woman challenged the notion that Miyas are lazy, pointing out their hard work and labor in various sectors like agriculture, farming, and manual labor. She questioned whether the Assamese people could match the level of effort put in by the Miyas and highlighted their significant contributions to the state’s development. The woman also raised concerns about the negative reputation attached to the Miyas, urging for fair treatment and dignity. She stressed that not all Miyas are involved in criminal activities and that they earn their livelihood through honest hard work.
“We Miyas clean the drainage, work in construction, we do all sorts of hard work that requires manual labor. How many Assamese people are engaged in this sector? Hardly a few of them,” she stated. “Let the authorities drive us out for a month, and we will see how the state runs without us,” she asserted, implying the essential role played by Miyas in various aspects of everyday life.
She also addressed the issue of population growth within the Miya community. “We should not be degraded in the name of the work we do or by how many children we give birth to. Yes, people in earlier times did not know all this, but now we are giving birth in a controlled manner. Even I have three kids,” the woman explained, aiming to dispel misconceptions surrounding family planning among the Miyas.
“I have been living in Assam since 25 long years, and I have been 5-6 kids in the families of Assamese people too. But in the end it is only us the Miyas that are blamed. Do we blame the Assamese people for the same? No, never. Likewise we also should be treated with dignity and should not be insulted.”, added the woman.
