The Assam BJP has criticized the state Congress President, Gaurav Gogoi, accusing him of endorsing a “new Greater Assam” centered on the Miya community, which they claim undermines the state’s historical and cultural roots. The party spokesperson, Jayanta Kumar Goswami, stated that Gogoi’s political stance is influenced by Miya leader Rezaul Karim’s ideology.
Goswami highlighted that this perspective contradicts the original concept of Greater Assam envisioned by Ahom king Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha and Srimanta Sankardeva, emphasizing unity among diverse ethnic and cultural groups. He mentioned that Sukapha’s vision focused on unity, while Sankardeva’s Neo-Vaishnavite movement promoted societal harmony beyond caste and community barriers.
The BJP spokesperson also alleged that Rezaul Karim, previously associated with the Congress, had threatened to transform historically indigenous areas like Sivasagar into Miya-dominated regions. Despite Karim’s departure from the Congress, Goswami claimed that Gogoi’s political stance still reflects the ideology Karim represented.
Questioning Gogoi’s motives, the BJP spokesperson criticized his idea of a “new Greater Assam,” which reportedly involves collaborating with Miya youth leaders advocating for exclusive reservation of 48 Assembly constituencies for the Miya community. The BJP reiterated its commitment to the vision of Greater Assam based on unity, cultural cohesion, and collective identity, opposing any narrative that divides Assamese society along communal lines.
