‘Pseudo-Secularism won’t be allowed’: Assam land of Sankar–Madhav alone, says Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 29 asserted that Assam’s civilisational and spiritual foundations rest solely on the teachings of Srimanta Shankaradev and Srimanta Madhavdev, declaring that no other names can be associated with the two saints. 

Addressing a public gathering in Guwahati in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sarma launched a sharp attack on what he described as “pseudo-secularism” in the state.

“I want to tell the pseudo-secular people of Assam that Assam is the land of the great saints Srimanta Shankaradev and Srimanta Madhavdev. No one else’s name can be associated with their names,” the Chief Minister said. He criticised attempts to project religious equivalence in the name of secularism, stating that Assam’s Gurus are Sankar and Madhav, not “Sankar and Azan.”

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Sarma said some people deliberately mention Srimanta Shankaradev and Azan Fakir in the same breath to display their secular credentials, but asserted that such narratives would not be allowed. “Our Gurujonas are Mahapurush Srimanta Shankaradev and Srimanta Madhavdev. We will not allow anyone else’s name to be taken in the same breath as theirs,” he said, adding that Sankar and Madhav are the founders of Assamese society and their ideals will be followed “for eternity.”

Linking cultural identity with governance, the Chief Minister said the BJP-led government in Assam, formed with the blessings of the people and under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has delivered unprecedented development in the state. However, he stressed that development cannot come at the cost of identity.

“We believe that, along with development, our existence should be prioritised. Without identity, there can be no development,” Sarma said. He maintained that Assam can emerge as a powerful state only when identity and development move together, reinforcing his government’s emphasis on cultural assertion alongside economic growth.