Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma targets Muslims again while turning a blind eye to widespread polygamy among tribal and Hindu groups
GUWAHATI – The BJP government in Assam, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is once again in the spotlight for introducing legislation that critics say is aimed squarely at the Muslim community. The government’s latest plan to criminalise polygamy and introduce a “love jihad” law has reignited debate about the state’s discriminatory governance and the systematic targeting of minorities.
Biswa Sarma announced that several “special laws” will be tabled in the state assembly soon, with the proposed polygamy bill being the most prominent. “Anyone who marries a second time without a legal divorce will face up to seven years in prison,” the chief minister declared at a recent press briefing.
The move comes on the heels of an offensive BJP advertisement that allegedly promoted hatred against Muslims, sparking condemnation across Assam. Observers say the new legislation is designed to polarise voters ahead of the next assembly elections.
Opposition parties and Muslim leaders have slammed the government plan, calling it a “politically motivated conspiracy” aimed at marginalising Muslims under the guise of reform. They argue that the law is not based on any genuine social concern but is only an attempt to further communalise politics in the state.
Ashraf Ali, a member of the Muslim community from Nagaon, said, “This law will not affect Assamese Muslims because polygamy is almost extinct among us. Muslims here live simple lives and are content with one marriage. The chief minister is only trying to target Muslims to gain political mileage.”
Ilyas Ahmed, president of Khudai Khidmatgar Assam Pran and a senior advocate of the Guwahati High Court, questioned the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. “Muslims in India are governed by the Muslim Personal Law. Yet, the chief minister continues to ignore constitutional protections and pushes laws that interfere with our religious freedom,” he said.
Ahmed accused Biswa Sarma of repeatedly misusing his legislative majority to single out the Muslim community. “The chief minister uses the assembly to pass laws that target one community. The practice of polygamy among Muslims in Assam has almost disappeared, yet he continues to provoke the issue for political reasons,” he added.
The new legislation has also drawn criticism for its selective nature. Assam is home to 23 tribal communities, including the Mikir, Karbi, Kachari, Naga, Mishing, and Dimasa, where polygamy remains culturally accepted and openly practised. Despite this, the government’s focus has remained narrowly fixed on Muslims.
A political analyst from Dibrugarh, Ranjit Hazarika, pointed out, “If the government is serious about banning polygamy, it must include all communities. But by only mentioning Muslims, the intention is clearly communal. This selective approach will deepen divisions in society.”
Critics also note that the Hindu Marriage Act of 1995 already prohibits Hindus from marrying more than once, making an additional law redundant unless it is meant to criminalise Muslims under a different guise.
Data from national surveys challenge the narrative that polygamy is a “Muslim issue”. According to government statistics, only 1.9 percent of Muslims in India practise polygamy — less than Christians (2.1 percent), Hindus (2.3 percent), and Scheduled Tribes (2.4 percent).
Social researcher Dr Farzana Rahman said, “Polygamy is not a Muslim problem; it’s a cultural practice that still exists in some tribal and rural communities. Yet, only Muslims are being made scapegoats for political propaganda.”
She added, “Instead of focusing on education, employment, and healthcare in Assam, the government is wasting its energy on creating communal divisions through these unnecessary laws.”
This is not the first time that the Himanta Biswa Sarma government has been accused of pushing anti-Muslim agendas. From the eviction of Muslim families in Darrang and Goalpara to the demolition of madrasas across the state, several recent actions have raised concerns of state-sponsored discrimination.
Rights groups say the pattern is unmistakable. Abdul Matin, a social worker from Barpeta, said, “Every few months, the chief minister introduces something new against Muslims — be it in the name of land, education, or now marriage. This is not governance; it’s persecution.”
Legal scholars and activists have warned that such laws could violate Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freely practise one’s religion.
Advocate Nilofar Rahman, a constitutional lawyer, noted, “The state cannot interfere with personal laws unless there’s a clear public purpose. This law is not about justice; it’s about vote-bank politics.” She added, “The Uniform Civil Code is being used as a pretext to dismantle minority rights step by step. Assam is being turned into a testing ground for divisive experiments.”
Despite the strong rhetoric, experts say the proposed legislation will have little practical effect. Polygamy is already rare among Muslims in Assam, and criminalising it will not address any real social problem. Instead, it risks inflaming communal tensions and deepening mistrust between communities.
Community elder Haji Abdul Rehman summed up the sentiment: “Our chief minister talks about one India, but he makes laws only for Muslims. If he truly believes in equality, let him apply the same rules to everyone — Hindus, tribals, and Christians too.”
As Assam prepares for the assembly session in November, questions remain over whether the state government’s proposed laws are about justice or politics. Many believe that the so-called reform is yet another attempt to mobilise Hindu votes by portraying Muslims as lawbreakers.
Political analyst Mehboob Hussain remarked, “The BJP has found a new tool — the law — to carry forward its old agenda of marginalising Muslims.
