Guwahati: Comments by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the state’s Muslim population have raised serious concern among minority communities and civil society observers. Speaking at a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam, Sarma claimed Muslims of Bangladesh origin would form nearly 40 percent of the state population by the time census data is released in 2027.
Sarma linked his claim to an ongoing eviction drive, stating removals of alleged infiltrators would continue in order to send a message to Bangladesh. He also accused the Congress party of supporting infiltrators and warned of a political takeover if population figures crossed a threshold.
Referring to the 2011 census, Sarma said Assam recorded a Muslim population of 34 percent. He then separated Assamese Muslims from those he described as Bangladesh origin, placing the latter at 31 percent. With no census held in 2021, he projected a sharp rise by 2027.
The chief minister repeated earlier statements warning Assam faced territorial risk if migrant numbers increased further. He cited remarks made by a Bangladesh National Citizen Party leader regarding the northeast region and its dependence on the Siliguri Corridor. Sarma said such statements explained his repeated warnings over the past five years.
The remarks place Muslim identity and migration at the center of public policy debate in Assam. By tying population projections to eviction drives, the statements raise fears of collective blame and exclusion. Critics view the language as divisive and grounded in suspicion rather than verified data.
The episode highlights growing unease over how demographic claims shape governance, policing, and housing policy in the state.
