Assam SIR row: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma defends Form-7 notices to ‘Miyas’ and criticises opposition for alleging misuse of the process.
Assam’s election preparations have turned into a massive political battleground right now. The Special Revision of the electoral rolls sparked controversy across the state. Opposition parties are screaming about the harassment of genuine citizens happening systematically everywhere. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma isn’t backing down one bit though.
The fight centers around Form-7, a provision allowing people to object to voters. CM Himanta claims notices target only illegal Bangladeshi “miya” migrants specifically. Opposition says the government is weaponizing this form against minority communities unfairly. Both sides are digging in their heels as the elections approach rapidly.
What’s Form-7 and Why the Fight
Form-7 lets voters object to someone else being on the electoral list. You can request name deletions if someone died or moved away permanently. Sounds simple enough, but politics makes everything complicated in the Assam state. Opposition parties allege systematic misuse targeting minorities under the revision process.
The state election department issued advisories trying to calm everyone down recently. Filing Form-7 doesn’t automatically delete names from voter lists that they clarified publicly. Every objection goes through rigorous legal processes, including field verification done properly. Officials serve notices to concerned voters by giving them chances to respond fully.
The person whose name is challenged gets to present their case properly. Only after hearing both sides do officials make any final decisions. This legal process should protect genuine voters from frivolous objections filed randomly. But opposition parties aren’t buying these assurances given by the government.
CM Himanta’s Blunt Defence
Himanta Biswa Sarma returned from Davos and immediately defended the revision process. He asked pointedly which Hindu families received notices from election officials. “Which Assamese Muslim household has seen a notice?” he questioned challengers openly. His message was crystal clear – only “miyas” are getting these notices.
The CM didn’t sugarcoat his intentions even slightly while speaking to the media. “We have to issue notices to miyas living here”, he stated bluntly. “There is nothing to hide. I am troubling them,” Himanta admitted without hesitation. This frank admission shocked many observers watching the situation unfold dramatically daily.
Sarma framed this as maintaining pressure on alleged illegal immigrants through channels. SR notices, evictions, and border police actions all work together he explained. “They have to understand that people of Assam are resisting them”, he declared. Otherwise, illegal immigrants will get a “walkover” into the state he warned.
The CM emphasized that all actions stay “within the ambit of law” technically. He positioned his government as genuinely supporting poor and downtrodden citizens. But those seeking to “destroy our jati (community)” won’t get sympathy here. This hardline stance has become Himanta’s signature style on immigration issues consistently.
Opposition Pushes Back Hard
Left parties including CPI(M), CPI, and Forward Bloc issued joint statements on Friday. They urged the Election Commission to ensure that no eligible voters are wrongly removed. Form-7 is being weaponized against minority voters they alleged in complaints. The opposition demanded extending the February 2 deadline for disposing of objections filed.
Congress took things further by lodging police complaints in the Boko-Chhaygaon area. They accused local BJP leaders and officials of unauthorized electoral roll changes. Both deletions and inclusions are happening without proper authority they claimed loudly. These complaints add fuel to the already burning political fire here.
The election department keeps reassuring voters not to feel apprehensive about anything. They stress that cooperation with verification officials will always resolve issues smoothly. False declarations or keeping incorrect entries violate the Representation of the People Act. Section 31 carries legal penalties for violations committed by anyone involved.
The revision aims for “clean, accurate, and inclusive” electoral rolls that officials maintain. Statutory remedies exist under the Registration of Electors Rules for aggrieved parties. Anyone can challenge inclusions, exclusions, or corrections through proper legal channels. But trust in the process has eroded badly among opposition supporters.
This controversy will likely intensify as Assam’s election date approaches. Both sides are using this issue to mobilize their respective vote banks. The “miya” versus indigenous debate has long divided Assam’s politics sharply. Form-7 has become the latest flashpoint in this ongoing battle.
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