Assam CM Warns Bangladesh-Origin Muslim Population May Swell to 40 PC by 2027
Pointing out that no census was conducted in 2021, he said, “When the census report comes out in 2027, the Bangladesh-origin Muslim population will be around 40 percent.”
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma triggered a fresh controversy by expressing concern over the growing population of Bangladeshi-origin Muslims in the state.
Fearing that the population of Muslims of Bangladeshi origin in the state could rise to around 40 per cent by the time the next Census report is published in 2027, the chief minister while addressing a meeting of the state executives of the party said, “According to the 2011 census, there was a 34 per cent Muslim population in Assam. If we give away three per cent of Assamese Muslims, then the Bangladeshi-origin Muslim population was 31 per cent in Assam.”
Pointing out that no census was conducted in 2021, he said, “When the census report comes out in 2027, the Bangladesh-origin Muslim population will be around 40 percent.”
Arguing that the population of Bangladeshi-origin Muslim will take over others soon, he regretted, “A false narrative has been created in Assam by the previous government by saying Shankar-Azan desh. We have heard about Shankar-Madhav from our childhood but not heard about Shankar-Azan, but a false narrative has been created.”
Mr Sarma went on saying, “This was forcefully created in our mind by creating a false narrative. Madhavadeva was the disciple of Shankardeva. Azan Faqir was there but not with Shankardeva. Lachit Barphukan has also been linked to Bag Hazarika, but there is no mention of Bag Hazarika in the history. The previous government tried to create a false narrative to appease the communities.”
Mr Sarma while stressing his point of contention said, “When I joined student politics from the platform of All Assam Students’ Union, the population of Bangladeshi-origin Muslims in Assam was 21 percent which is now touching 40 percent. I have seen this growth myself. My children will see the Assamese population dropping to 30-35 percent with their own eyes.”
The chief minister asserted that the BJP’s agenda was to “secure Assam for the new generation” and called for unity to protect the community. He also referred to recent events in Bangladesh, saying they had reinforced his belief that religion was prioritised differently there compared to India, where, he said, the “motherland” comes first.