Ashok Singhal, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, speaking at a government event to distribute land title deeds, targeted Bengali-origin Muslims and alleged that “Miyas” had encroached on land belonging to tribal communities. He said people must protect their land from “Miyas” and urged attendees to take an oath that no “Miya” would be allowed to enter the Forest Rights Committee (FRC) areas, claiming only then would they have peace. He also raised the slogan, “Drive out the Miya, save the FRC.”