LEADERS MUST UPHOLD CONSTITUTIONAL ROLES

A chief minister serves not only as a political leader but also as a representative of the constitutional relationship between the State and its citizens.

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When such an officeholder, either directly or symbolically, targets a minority community for humiliation or threat, the harm extends to the constitutional order itself. Therefore, the now-deleted video posted on the official social media account of the ruling party in Assam, which shows Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma miming a pointblank shooting of men clearly identifiable as Muslims, merits examination beyond standard political criticism. This incident is not isolated; it follows a series of statements by him about Muslims he calls “Miya”, referring to Bangla-speaking Muslims in Assam with Bangladeshi roots.