Gauhati: A group of 43 prominent writers, academics, former civil servants, journalists, and social activists from Assam have approached the Gauhati High Court, urging it to take suo motu cognisance of what they describe as repeated hate speech by BJP’s Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, executive interference in the voter list revision process, and serious violations of constitutional norms.
According to Global Mirror, the written representation has been submitted to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and is is led by noted Assamese scholar Hiren Gohain, former Assam Director General of Police Harekrishna Deka, and former Archbishop of Guwahati Thomas Menamparampil. The signatories include former IAS officers, retired judges, scientists, writers, editors, trade union leaders, artists, doctors, and poets, many of whom have held key public positions in Assam’s civic and intellectual life.
In their representation, the signatories say that the Chief Minister has repeatedly made public statements amounting to hate speech against the Bengali-origin Muslim community in Assam. It specifically cites statements attributed to Sarma calling for members of the community to be made to suffer economically and socially, including remarks suggesting discriminatory treatment in daily transactions.
According to Global Mirror, the written representation has been submitted to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and is is led by noted Assamese scholar Hiren Gohain, former Assam Director General of Police Harekrishna Deka, and former Archbishop of Guwahati Thomas Menamparampil. The signatories include former IAS officers, retired judges, scientists, writers, editors, trade union leaders, artists, doctors, and poets, many of whom have held key public positions in Assam’s civic and intellectual life.
In their representation, the signatories say that the Chief Minister has repeatedly made public statements amounting to hate speech against the Bengali-origin Muslim community in Assam. It specifically cites statements attributed to Sarma calling for members of the community to be made to suffer economically and socially, including remarks suggesting discriminatory treatment in daily transactions.