Himanta Sarma’s Concern Over Rising Muslim Population in Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his grave concern over the changing demography in Assam. On Wednesday, he highlighted the significant increase in the Muslim population, stating that the issue was not political but “a matter of life and death” for him.

“Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, the Muslim population has reached 40 percent today. In 1951, it was 12 percent,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He emphasized that many districts have been lost due to this demographic shift, making it a critical issue for him personally.

This is not the first time Sarma has spoken out against the population increase among the Muslim community. In June 2021, shortly after forming the government, he stated, “Population explosion is the root cause of economic disparities and poverty among minority Muslims in Assam.”

The Assam government has announced plans to create awareness about population control and distribute contraceptives in Muslim-dominated areas. Last year, they proposed a socio-economic survey of the state’s five indigenous Muslim communities to facilitate their upliftment.

The Assam Chief Minister has also addressed the issue of illegal immigrants and taken action against encroachment in the state. Following the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, Sarma laid down conditions for recognizing Bengali-speaking Bangladeshi Muslims, known as ‘Miya’, as indigenous people in Assam.

For the Miya community to be recognized, Sarma asserted that they must follow cultural practices and norms, such as limiting family size to two children, preventing polygamy, and stopping the marriage of minor daughters.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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