Muslims becoming wealthier may signal start of ‘surrender of Assamese people’: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday claimed that the state was witnessing not just demographic change, but an “economic shift”, with Muslims growing richer.
This, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader claimed, could mean that the “surrender of the Assamese people” had begun.
During a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma claimed that the population growth rate among Hindus was reducing, while that of Muslims was increasing.
“I have data of the growth of the Hindu and Muslim populations between 2001 and 2011,” the chief minister said. “You will see that everywhere, the population growth among Hindus is coming down and the Muslim population is increasing in every block of Assam.”
According to the 2011 Census, Hindus constitute 61.47% of Assam's population, while Muslims constitute 34.22%. The 2001 Census stated that Hindus comprised 64.89% of the population, while Muslims were 30.92%.
Sarma has repeatedly alleged that undocumented immigration in Assam from Bangladesh has been leading to demographic change, with the share of the Muslim population increasing. However, academicians and experts have maintained that higher birth rates, and not undocumented immigration from Bangladesh, were responsible for the increase.
Also read:
Fact check: Are illegal Bangladeshi migrants responsible for increase in Assam's Muslim population?
Despite this, Sarma claimed on Sunday that rapid demographic change had taken place in Assam. “In a way, a chapter of the Assamese people's surrender has begun,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.
The BJP leader said that the government noticed the number of instances of the sale of land from Hindus to Muslims was very high, whereas the reverse scenario was less frequent.
In August 2024, the Assam Cabinet approved a proposal under which the government would scrutinise all land transfers between individuals of different religions.
Sarma said that several permissions for land transfers pertained to Assamese and indigenous Muslims, to which the government did not have any objection. However, there has been a shift not just in the state's demographics, but also in wealth creation, he claimed.
“So far, we were thinking that only the numbers have risen, but now see that even the wealth pattern has changed.” the BJP leader claimed, according to PTI.
Sarma said he will hold a detailed press conference on the topic at a later date.
However, he said: “You can sometimes accept the demographic change in population, but witnessing an economic shift signals destruction. Earlier, we did not know about this. But now, we are getting the data as government permission is required [for the sale of land].”
Also read:
Harsh Mander: Corrosive rhetoric against Bengali-speaking Muslims is tearing Assam apart
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma slams Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge for Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma meets Bhupen Borah day after his resignation from Congress Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says ST plan for six groups will not affect existing tribes Bill to ban polygamy tabled in Assam Assembly by Himanta Biswa Sarma Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launches Mukhya Mantrir Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma calls Congress’ first candidate list a showcase of dynastic politics CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on NDA seat-sharing for Assam polls Himanta Biswa Sarma meets Amit Shah to discuss Assam polls Himanta Biswa Sarma says he has no ambition to enter national politics for another five years Himanta Biswa Sarma makes SIT charges against Gaurav Gogoi