Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently expressed deep concern over the changing demographic trends in the state, particularly highlighting the significant increase in the Muslim population. Sarma emphasized that this issue is not merely political but one of critical importance, describing it as "a matter of life and death."
According to Sarma, the Muslim population in Assam has risen to 40% today from 12% in 1951, a shift he views with grave apprehension. He underscored that this demographic change has resulted in the loss of several districts and asserted that addressing this issue is crucial to the state's future.
This is not the first instance where Himanta Biswa Sarma has raised concerns about population dynamics, particularly among Assam's Muslim community. In June 2021, soon after assuming office, he attributed economic disparities and poverty among minority Muslims in Assam to population growth. He outlined initiatives aimed at raising awareness about population control and distributing contraceptives in Muslim-dominated areas of the state.
Last year, the Assam government announced plans for a socio-economic survey of five indigenous Muslim communities in the state to devise targeted upliftment measures. Sarma has also taken a firm stance on illegal immigration and encroachment issues in Assam.
In March, following the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act, Sarma set conditions for recognizing Bengali-speaking Bangladeshi Muslims, known as 'Miya', as Indigenous people in Assam. He stressed cultural adherence, including limitations on family size, polygamy, and underage marriage, as prerequisites for Miya community recognition in the northeastern state.
Sarma's statements reflect ongoing debates and policy directions aimed at managing demographic changes, ensuring socio-economic equity, and addressing cultural and identity concerns in Assam.
