Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has informed the Gauhati High Court that allegations of hate speech against him are being made on the basis of selective extracts taken from his interviews and public statements.

In an affidavit submitted before the court, Sarma argued that using isolated lines or portions of speeches can distort the actual meaning and context of what was said.

He also claimed that many of the materials submitted by petitioners were incomplete, often relying on photocopies of newspaper reports containing only limited excerpts, rather than full transcripts or recordings.

The case arises from petitions filed seeking action against the Chief Minister over a series of controversial remarks made since January, particularly targeting Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam, often referred to as “Miyas”.

Petitioners, including scholar Hiren Gohain, former DGP Harekrishna Deka, and activist Paresh Malakar, have alleged that his statements amount to hate speech.

The court has also been informed about a BJP Assam unit video that allegedly showed AI-generated visuals and inflammatory slogans targeting Muslims, which was later deleted after criticism.

Sarma, however, has maintained that multiple FIRs have already been registered on the matter and investigations are ongoing, arguing that this reduces the need for further judicial intervention.He also stated that an earlier complaint was closed by police after no cognisable offence was found.

Additionally, he requested the court to direct petitioners to provide complete, unedited transcripts or recordings of the speeches cited in the petitions.The Gauhati High Court has directed that full transcripts of the cited statements be submitted and has scheduled the next hearing for August 6.

The case continues to draw attention due to its political sensitivity and ongoing debates around hate speech and freedom of expression in public discourse.