Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the upcoming assembly elections will be a fight to protect the nation (‘swadesh’), the community (‘swajati’), and the state’s identity, land, and culture.
Addressing a BJP executive meeting in Guwahati, Sarma described his party as the “last light of hope” to prevent Assam from being “pushed into darkness” by infiltrators from Bangladesh. Citing the 2011 Census, he said the Muslim population of Bangladeshi origin stood at 31% after excluding 3% of Assamese-origin Muslims, and estimated that it could reach 40% by 2027.
Sarma highlighted incidents of cultural erosion, including the throwing of beef outside homes in Dhubri, alleged ‘Love Jihad’ attacks on Hindu girls, and Assamese residents selling land and moving to towns. He also flagged strategic concerns, pointing to the Siliguri corridor: “Who is there on either side? There are no Hindus, only settlers from Bangladesh. If India were at war, where would their loyalty lie?”
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Warning that indigenous Assamese now constitute only 60% of the state’s population, Sarma criticised Left parties for glorifying revolutions in Nepal and Bangladesh while ignoring consequences at home. He also challenged narratives that equate Assamese Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva with Sufi saint Azan Fakir, asserting that Assam “was, is, and will remain the land of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and Mahapurush Madhabdev.”
Invoking historical precedent, Sarma said the BJP would defend the state’s culture, land, and community, citing Ahom general Lachit Barphukan’s resistance to Mughal invasions. He pointed to the lifting of AFSPA in 2022 and “unprecedented development” under the Modi government, asserting that the BJP will be a “shining light” for Assamese citizens.
“The forthcoming elections are not about hopes or aspirations. We will fight relentlessly to protect our ‘jati, mati, and bheti’ (community, land, roots),” he said, expressing confidence of victory.
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