Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma intensified his criticism of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), claiming that the building’s architecture resembles ‘Mecca,’ one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Just days after accusing the university of conducting a so-called “flood jihad,” Sarma on Monday (Aug 13) asserted that the institution was undermining education and that the domed entrance symbolised ‘jihad.’
Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier blamed the construction work at the university for the flash floods in Guwahati.
Sarma said the university, situated in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district, indulged in deforestation and cutting of hills, leading to the flash floods.
The university is operated by a foundation founded by Mahbubul Hoque, a Bengali Muslim, who also serves as the chancellor.
Assam Chief Minister, referencing the three domes on the university’s main gate, claimed that they resemble the architecture of Mecca and Medina.
“It’s discomforting to go there; you have to go under ‘Mecca’. What we are saying is that there should be a namghar (community prayer hall, part of Assam’s neo-Vaishnavite tradition) also there. ‘Mecca-Medina’, church. Make all three… They have kept a ‘Mecca’ there. Let them make a namghar, make a church. We will walk under all three, why will we walk under just one,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying.
He accused the university administration of engaging in what he termed the “father of jihad.”
“When I spoke about Meghalaya University of Science and Technology (USTM), everyone criticised me. But earlier, Tarun Gogoi had said that Jorabat is the main reason for floods in Guwahati,” he stated.
The Assam CM has claimed that the hills were cut towards Guwahati, not Meghalaya.
“Why did the hills cut towards Guwahati and not towards Meghalaya? Is this not flood jihad?” he said.
Last week, taking to X, Sarma posted satellite images of Meghalaya’s Greater Jorabat Hills and said, “After the recent flash floods in Guwahati, we have gone through satellite images of Meghalaya’s Greater Jorabat Hills, located 6-7 km from the city. The deforestation where USTM University is located is self-explanatory. But my concern is not just the area near USTM. Below is a time-lapse video of the destruction in other regions of the Greater Jorabat Hills in Meghalaya. It also explains how a cloud burst here leads to rapid floods in Guwahati, like the one recently. We will work with Meghalaya Govt to protect our shared habitats.”
Slamming Sarma for his remark, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi wrote on X, “Can someone stop the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa, from his jihad of repeated nonsense? It is simply an exaggerated cover-up for his failures and scams.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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