Hojai (Assam) [India], September 3 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has refuted Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani's remarks on the eviction drive in the state, warning him of legal action if necessary.
"Who is Madani? Is Madani God? Madani's bravery exists if there is Congress. There is no evidence of Madani's bravery during the BJP's time. If he does too much, I will send Madani to jail. I am the CM, not Madani," CM Sarma told the media on Tuesday.
This comes after Maulana Madani criticised the eviction drives being carried out in the state, calling them "unfortunate and painful."
"Eviction drive is being carried out in the state...I visited several areas yesterday. Seeing the manner in which it is being done here is saddening. If you visit and see this, see the system, you will be saddened. I was pained, especially because communities and countries are formed under a system. If anything is done in violation of the system, if it is overlooked and trampled on is unfortunate and painful. The more it is condemned, the less it is," Madani said while addressing the media.
Earlier, the CM had said that the police would maintain strict monitoring for the visit of the seven-member delegation of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind in Goalpara district.
In a post on X on Monday, CM Sarma wrote, "A delegation of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is presently visiting Goalpara district, Assam. Considering the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) elections and the sensitive situation in the district, the Assam police will continue to maintain strict monitoring to ensure peace and stability."
Recently, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sharma has announced significant progress in the state's long-standing efforts to bring back the Vrindavani Vastra, a sacred textile created by 15th-century saint and reformer Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, currently housed in the British Museum.
The textile, which depicts the dasavatara (ten incarnations) of Lord Krishna and scenes from his childhood, is regarded as a treasured symbol of Assamese heritage and devotion, and CM Sarma said that the Museum is willing to loan it for 18 months in 2027.
The Assam CM said, "We are working closely now with the British Museum, JSW, and the Indian Ambassador to Britain. Finally, the British Museum has written to us that if we can construct a museum as per the required environmental standards, then they are willing to give us the textile as a loan for 18 months in 2027."
"Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev created a textile which in Assam we call Vrindavani Vastra. It depicted the dasavatara of Lord Krishna, along with his other childhood activities. That textile is in the British Museum and other museums of Europe," the Chief Minister said, adding that while many in Assam have heard about it, few have ever seen it in person.