Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a stark warning on Saturday, stating that the state could face an existential threat if the population of people of Bangladeshi origin crosses the 50% mark. He framed the upcoming assembly elections as a pivotal 'civilisational battle' to protect the identity, land, and culture of the indigenous Assamese people.
A Dire Warning on Demographics and Sovereignty
Addressing the BJP's state executive meeting at Guwahati's Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, CM Sarma presented a grim demographic forecast. He revealed that the population of people with roots in Bangladesh has already surpassed 40% and continues to grow. Citing census data, he noted that Muslims comprised 34% of Assam's population in 2011, with 31% being of Bangladeshi origin and only 3% indigenous Assamese Muslims.
"If their population crosses 50%, then in such a situation, there might be an attempt to make Assam a part of Bangladesh," Sarma cautioned. He expressed deep personal concern, stating that in his lifetime, he has witnessed this demographic shift rise from 21% to nearly 40%. He fears that by 2027, the figure could reach around 40%, and his children might see the indigenous Assamese population dwindle to just 30%.
Elections Framed as a Fight for 'Swadesh' and 'Swajati'
The Chief Minister did not mince words in attacking the opposition Congress, accusing the party of decades of 'appeasement politics' that fostered a "new civilisation," which now numbers 1.5 crore in the state. He positioned the BJP as the 'last light of hope' to prevent Assam from being "pushed into an abyss of darkness by Bangladesh infiltrators."
"This is not merely political, it is civilisational," Sarma asserted. He invoked the legacy of Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, who defeated the Mughals, vowing to similarly defeat the forces threatening Assam's core. "We have PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah with us. We will fight relentlessly to protect our 'jati, mati and bheti' (identity, land and homeland) — and we will win," he declared.
Cultural Identity and Allegations of 'Love Jihad'
CM Sarma also took a firm stand on cultural narratives, explicitly rejecting the idea of Assam as the land of 'Sankar-Azan' (a reference to Vaishnav saint Sankardeva and Sufi saint Azan Fakir). He emphatically stated, "Assam was, is, and will always remain the land of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev & Mahapurush Madhabdev."
He warned against allowing misleading narratives to weaken the state's cultural ethos. Pointing to specific incidents in districts like Dhubri and lower Assam, Sarma singled out instances of what he termed 'Love Jihad,' where Hindu girls are allegedly targeted. To underscore the perceived threat, he referenced the public lynching of Dipu Das in Bangladesh, asking, "When Dipu Das can be burnt alive in Bangladesh, the Assamese people can well imagine what the situation will be after 20 years."
The Chief Minister concluded with a pointed question about loyalty in a potential conflict: "If there is a war between India and Bangladesh, who will these settlers support? Where does their loyalty lie?" This rhetoric sets the stage for a highly charged electoral campaign centered on demography, security, and cultural preservation.
