Hate speech allegations based on ‘selective extracts’ of interviews, Himanta Sarma tells HC

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the Gauhati High Court on Wednesday that he had been accused of hate speech based on selective extracts from interviews and speeches, Live Law reported.

In an affidavit submitted in the court in response to petitions seeking action against the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, he said that “extracting selective portions or isolated lines from an interview is capable of distorting the true meaning”, according to Northeast Now.

Since January, Sarma has made a series of remarks targeting Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam, calling them “Miyas”. The BJP leader had said that it was his job to “make them suffer”.

In Assam, “Miya” is a derogatory word used to refer to undocumented immigrants and is exclusively directed at Muslims of Bengali origin. They are often accused of being undocumented migrants from Bangladesh.

Once a pejorative in Assam, from the common use of the honorific “Miya” among South Asian Muslims, the term has now been reappropriated by the community as a self-descriptor to refer to Muslims who migrated to Assam from Bengal during the colonial era.

After Sarma’s remarks, Assamese scholar Hiren Gohain, Director General of Police Harekrishna Deka and activist Paresh Malakar had moved the court against him.

In April, the Gauhati High Court granted four more weeks to the Assam government and the BJP leader to respond to the petitions seeking action against him.

On Wednesday, Sarma questioned the authenticity and completeness of the materials relied on by the petitioners, stating that only photocopies of newspaper reports containing “one or two isolated lines” had been submitted, the newspaper reported.

Sarma further alleged that reporters and authors of some news reports had added their own interpretations and editorial comments while selectively quoting him, which he said had the effect of damaging his reputation, reported Northeast Now.

The chief minister also said he was unable to respond effectively to the allegations without access to the original material and asked the court to direct the petitioners to provide complete, unedited transcripts or recordings of the speeches and interviews referred to in the pleas.

In his affidavit, Sarma said several first information reports had already been registered about the allegations and argued that since investigations were already underway, there was no need for further judicial intervention, Live Law reported.

He also said an earlier complaint examined by Latasil Police Station was later closed after police found no cognisable offence.

Directing that full transcripts of the speeches quoted in the petitions be provided, the High Court listed the matter for further hearing on August 6.

In their pleas, the petitioners had also referred to a video posted by the BJP’s Assam unit on February 7, which showed the chief minister firing at images of two Muslim men at point-blank range.

The video reportedly combined footage of Sarma handling rifles with AI-generated visuals depicting Muslims as targets. The on-screen text included phrases such as “Foreigner free Assam”, “No mercy”, “Why did you not go to Pakistan?” and “There is no forgiveness to Bangladeshis”.

The clip was deleted following social media criticism.

However, on March 12, the BJP leader said that he would repost the video but by labelling those being shot at as “Bangladeshis”.

Besides these petitions, Sarma is also facing proceedings related to hate speech before a Delhi court on a plea filed by activist and writer Harsh Mander.

Edited by Sneha.

Also read:

• Has the Supreme Court gone soft on hate speech? 
• Himanta Sarma’s remarks about ‘Miyas’ make a mockery of the Constitution