India, Jan. 31 -- Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday intensified his campaign against the "Miya" community in the state, saying the term was a reference to Bangladeshi immigrants and that he has declared a "war" to drive them out of the state.

"Miya means Bangladeshi infiltrators, and we have decided to go as far as it takes to send every one of them back from Assam. This is a war and a matter of life and death for us," Sarma told a public gathering on Saturday.

Sarma has repeatedly used the term "Miyas" on public platforms in recent weeks, prompting criticism from the Opposition.

On January 27, he urged people in Assam to "go after" members of the Miya community and continue to "disturb" them. "If we don't do this, t...