Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that Miya Muslims use urea in fish which can cause liver disease if consumed. He asked the people of Assam to opt for fish grown locally instead. The arrival of "a new version of Miya Bihu" is an attack on Assamese culture, the chief minister reportedly said while coming down heavily on the use of urea on fish.
Sarma emphasized the need for organic fish production in upper Assam. According to reports, the Assam Chief Minister's comments were influenced by local fish traders in the Nagaon district of Assam, who claimed the catch in their area could have a high content of urea. They announced a boycott of the supply of fish to lower Assam and stated that healthier alternatives were needed, local news reports said.
According to a Times Of India (TOI) report, a group of Muslim fish traders from central Assam had halted supplies to upper Assam after people from their community were asked to leave the region. Coming down heavily on this protest by the fish traders, the CM reportedly said this "economic blockade' initiated by Miya Muslim traders was a significant threat.
Condemning the consumption of "Miya Bihu", Sarna said using it was an insult to the Assamese culture.
Sarma also addressed the cultural tensions surrounding "Miya Bihu" a version of the Bihu festival introduced by Miya Muslims. Bihu is a cultural festival that marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year and the harvest season.
"Miya Muslims use urea fertilizer to produce fish... we should avoid that. Assamese need to produce fish in Upper Assam...
"Amongst all this, a new version of Miya Bihu has come out disturbing our community. We are a proud nation and cannot accept these attacks on our culture," Sarma was quoted as saying by India Today NorthEast.
For the unversed, upper Assam remains tense after some organizations demanded that ‘miyas’ should leave districts in the region after a minor girl was gang-raped in Nagaon district. The Chief Minister on Tuesday said in the assembly that he would not allow Miya Muslims to “take over” Assam. Miya Muslims is a term used to represent immigrant Muslims of Bangladeshi origin.