"Law does not allow illegal Bangladeshis to operate rickshaws": Himanta Biswa Sarma defends ‘Miya’ remarks

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, February 1, defended his recent remarks linking rickshaw operations to alleged illegal immigrants, asserting that his comments were rooted in what he described as legal and administrative concerns rather than targeting any community.

Addressing a gathering at the Women Entrepreneurship Fund Distribution Programme in Goalpara, Sarma clarified his use of the term “Miya,” stating that he was referring specifically to individuals who, according to him, had entered India illegally from Bangladesh. The Chief Minister maintained that existing laws do not permit such individuals to operate rickshaws in Assam.

“I said people should pay Rs 4 instead of Rs 5, but the law clearly says that illegal immigrants cannot operate rickshaws here. If I take the legal route, then they will have to stop running rickshaws altogether,” Sarma said. He added that employment opportunities in the state should first be secured for Indian citizens.

The Chief Minister further argued that the issue of illegal immigration was a legacy problem created during previous Congress governments and would take time to resolve. “These problems were created earlier. They cannot be solved overnight,” he said.

Reiterating his government’s hardline stance, Sarma acknowledged that deportation posed practical challenges but asserted that his administration would continue to act firmly against illegal immigrants. “It is not easy to deport them. Until they leave, they will face difficulties. They cannot live in Assam with ease,” he said, adding that his government would not relax its position on the matter.

Sarma’s remarks have drawn attention amid ongoing political and social debates around immigration, citizenship, and livelihood rights in Assam, a state that has long grappled with the issue of undocumented migration.