On Wednesday (17th July), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed grave concerns about the changing demographic composition in the Northern eastern border state. He asserted that demographic change was a matter of concern. He emphasised that this is not a political issue but rather for him, this is a “matter of life and death”.
CM Sarma also highlighted how the demographic composition has drastically changed in Assam over the last several decades. He mentioned that Muslims who comprised around 12-14% of the total state population in 1951 have reached 40% now. He added that we have lost many districts.
Addressing a press conference in Jharkhand’s capital, Rachi, CM Sarma said, “Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, the Muslim population has reached 40 percent today. In 1951, it was 12 percent.”
1951 में असम में मुसलमानों की आबादी सिर्फ़ 14% थी। आज उनकी आबादी लगभग 40% है।
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 17, 2024
जनसांख्यिकीय परिवर्तन हमारे लिए राजनीतिक मुद्दा नहीं है, यह अस्तित्व का मुद्दा है। pic.twitter.com/B3nsAokVD2
He added, “We have lost many districts. This is not a political issue for me. It is a matter of life and death for me.”
#WATCH | Ranchi | Assam CM & BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "…Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, Muslim population has reached 40% today. In 1951, it was 12%. We have lost many districts. This is not a political issue for me. It is a matter of life and… pic.twitter.com/N11lpEGUfg
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2024
It is pertinent to note that Assam CM Sarma has been vocal about the issue of illegal immigrants and has taken stern action against encroachment in the state.
Assam CM Sarma is the party in charge of the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections. Addressing the press, he blamed the JMM-led Jharkhand government for not taking stern actions against ‘illegal immigrants’ (ghuspatiye) who are trapping tribal girls and marrying them. He added that the administration was not doing due diligence and enforcing laws already in place. He added that after coming to power, the BJP will put in place laws to ensure that intruders don’t trap tribal girls and that nobody would be able to exploit them.
Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Sabha at Ranchi https://t.co/j0n8S7pDly
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 17, 2024
He said, “There is a problem of illegal immigrants coming from outside in Jharkhand and luring tribal daughters. All this is happening under the protection of JMM-Cong. Assam is a border state. I am fighting infiltrators every day, why has the Jharkhand government given up in this matter?”
झारखण्ड में बाहर से घुसपैठियों का आना और आदिवासी बेटियों को फसाना एक समस्या है। यह सब JMM-Cong के संरक्षण में हो रहा है।
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 17, 2024
असम एक बॉर्डर राज्य है। मैं रोज घुसपेठियों से लड़ रहा हूँ, इस मामले में झारखण्ड की सरकार ने क्यों हाथ ऊपर कर दिया हैं? pic.twitter.com/eoWqrpjrzC
He explained that the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants is the duty of the state government.
Earlier this month, on 1st July, Sarma had expressed concerns about the prevalence of criminal activities among people from a “particular religion”.
“I am not saying that crime is committed only by people of a particular religion but recent incidents since the just concluded Lok Sabha elections is a matter of concern,” Sarma was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
On 23rd June, he expressed concerns about the surge in communalism stating that the Bangladeshi-origin minority community is the only one in Assam which indulges in communalism.
Soon after forming a state government in June 2021, he expressed concerns about the population explosion. He had said, “Population explosion is the root cause of economic disparities and poverty among minority Muslims in Assam.”
