Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent comments while campaigning in Jharkhand for the Bharatiya Janata Party have received criticism from opposition leaders in his home state. Sarma alleged that “infiltrators from Bangladesh” make up 1.25 crore of Assam’s population and control 40 of its 126 MLAs. His remarks have sparked a buzz following the conclusion of polling in Assam in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7.
At a Ranchi press conference, Sarma warned that these “infiltrators” pose a threat to Jharkhand’s tribal population, using Assam as a cautionary example. He criticised past Congress governments for failing to prevent this alleged infiltration, asserting that Assam’s identity has been compromised as a result.
Sarma urged Jharkhand to avoid similar mistakes and to prevent the entry of Rohingyas, emphasising the importance of border protection and expressing support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Sarma’s comments also referenced the Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC), which excluded 19 lakh people in its final 2019 draft. He depicted an ongoing “existential threat” in Assam, suggesting that infiltrators could similarly affect Jharkhand’s indigenous population within 20 years.
Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Aminul Islam, general secretary of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) dismissed Sarma’s claims as politically motivated. He said, “Why, if there are indeed Bangladeshis, the current government hasn’t taken action? Himanta Biswa Sarma is only trying to show his anti-Muslim stand to the people everywhere in an attempt to win sympathy votes from Hindus in the name of religion. If 40 per cent of Assam is filled with infiltrators, even his government is a government of infiltrators. It’s very shameful that the CM comes up with such undemocratic, unconstitutional things time and again.
Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah also criticised Sarma, highlighting the inconsistencies between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public statements and the CM’s rhetoric.
Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dol leader Akhil Gogoi condemned Sarma’s speeches as communal and fundamentalist, urging the chief minister to refrain from disrespecting the people of Assam. He said, “CM Sarma should resign from the post of chief minister and then state such statements. He has put the people of Assam into utter shame by saying such communal things in other states. He is putting the entire state of Assam in shame.”
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