Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has sparked controversy by questioning the design of the entrance gate of Meghalaya University, which he claims resembles a “Mecca-like” structure. This statement comes after the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Inder Mohan Kapahy, was booked for allegedly making inflammatory remarks about the Assam floods, which Sarma termed as “flood jihad”.
Sarma’s comments have drawn sharp reactions from various quarters, with many accusing him of trying to stir up communal tensions. The Meghalaya government has also taken umbrage with Sarma’s remarks, with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma stating that the design of the gate is inspired by the state’s rich cultural heritage and not by any religious structure.
The controversy began when Professor Kapahy was booked for allegedly making provocative statements about the Assam floods, which Sarma claimed were part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize the state. Sarma had termed the alleged conspiracy as “flood jihad”, a term that has been widely criticized as inflammatory and communal.
In the latest development, Sarma has trained his guns on the design of the Meghalaya University’s entrance gate, claiming that it resembles a “Mecca-like” structure. Sarma’s comments have been seen as an attempt to further communalize the issue and draw attention away from the real issues facing the people of Assam and Meghalaya.
The Meghalaya government has made it clear that the design of the gate is inspired by the state’s rich cultural heritage and not by any religious structure. The government has also accused Sarma of trying to stir up communal tensions and divide the people of the region.