Sushmita Dev Slams Himanta Biswa Sarma for Anti-Bengali Remark, Demands Apology

Amid growing controversy in Assam over linguistic identity and census declarations, Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev has strongly criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his recent remark linking the Bengali language with “foreigners.” The statement has triggered widespread outrage, especially among Bengali-speaking communities in the state.

The controversy began on Thursday (July 10) when CM Sarma said that people writing “Bengali” as their mother tongue in the upcoming census would help the government identify the number of “foreigners” in Assam. His statement followed a comment by student leader Mainuddin Ali (of All Bodoland Territorial Council Minority Students’ Union), who urged Bengali-origin Muslims not to declare Assamese as their mother tongue in protest against eviction drives.

Ali has since been suspended, and a police case has been filed against him. However, Sarma’s response to the incident — implying that language could be used to identify suspected “foreigners” — has drawn sharp criticism from civil society, legal experts, and political leaders.

Reacting to this, Sushmita Dev said the Chief Minister’s comments were not just anti-Bengali but also unconstitutional and communal.

Speaking to the media on Saturday (July 13), she said, “The Chief Minister’s statement is a direct insult to the Bengali-speaking population. Assam is home to many linguistic groups like Assamese, Bodo, and Bengali. If today the Chief Minister insults one community’s language, it’s dangerous and unacceptable.”

She added, “My mother tongue is Bengali, but I respect all languages spoken in Assam. The CM’s words can create fear among ordinary people, especially minorities, who may now be afraid to write their real mother tongue in the Census. This is nothing short of a threat.”

Dev demanded that CM Sarma withdraw his comment and apologise to the people. The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has distanced itself from the Chief Minister’s remark, calling for unity and mutual respect among all communities in Assam.