Ranchi/IBNS: The opposition INDIA bloc has complained to the Election Commission against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remarks targeting Muslims ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly polls, which have sparked a massive row, media reports said.

The INDIA bloc accused Sarma of hitting out at Muslims when he addressed a rally at Jharkhand's Sarath.

"His use of extremely divisive and hateful words in the speech targeting the Muslim minorities by saying words like 'Woh log ek hi jageh par vote daalte hain lekin humaara Hindu aadha vote idhar daalega aadha udhar (They will vote for the same person, but Hindus will not vote together)' and 'ye sarkar ghuspaithiya ko bulaata hai kyuki vishesh samudaay unko vote deta hai (This government calls infiltrators because a particular community votes for it)' are clear examples of the venomous language being used by him to create a civil war-like situation and incite violence in the ensuing assembly elections," the letter said.

"This hate speech given by Sarma is an example of the divisive politics being promoted by him and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party," the letter accessed by the media read.

Responding to the complaint, Sarma hit back, stating, "Why are they complaining against me?  Won't I speak against the corrupt? Why are they affected if I speak against the infiltrators? Where is it written that it is wrong to speak against infiltrators?"

"Should we open our doors to infiltrators? If I talk about Hindus, does it mean I am targeting Muslims? I don't even utter the word - Muslim. India is a Hindu civilisation and to talk about Hindus and their protection is a positive thing. Some Muslim leaders may speak about protecting Muslims. That is also not wrong," he told the media.

He also addressed the controversy over his remark that the Hussainabad subdivision in Palamu district will be named after Ram or Krishna if the BJP comes to power.

"Is it a crime to talk about changing the name of a place? Then the Jharkhand movement was illegal too," he said.