Guwahati,: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday openly defended the state’s ongoing eviction drives, stating that they are aimed specifically at “Miya Muslims” — a derogatory term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, reported the Times of India.
These communities, often labelled as “illegal immigrants” by the BJP, have long been subjected to heightened state scrutiny and are frequently portrayed as a “threat” to the nation.
Speaking to the media, Sarma claimed, “The Miya Muslims are being evicted since they encroached on forests, wetlands, villages and grazing lands. Even if tribes like the Bodo and Mising live in forests, they can acquire land under the Forest Rights Act, but non-tribals won’t get similar benefits.”
Despite rising protests, the CM asserted that the drives would continue, adding that “The Miya Muslims have a lot of land in Char areas. Our people don’t go to Char. They are also encroaching on land in upper Assam districts.”
His remarks came a day after the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) accused the state government of deliberately targeting Assam’s Muslims ahead of upcoming Assembly elections. Last month, the All Assam Minority Students’ Union staged protests after several Bengali-speaking Muslims were evicted from their homes.
Since the BJP came to power in Assam in 2016, Sarma claims that 1.39 lakh bighas of forest and government land have been cleared of “encroachers.” The eviction drives, which were relaunched in June 2025, have sparked both national and international criticism from rights groups.
