"When census report comes out in 2027, Bangladesh-origin Muslim population will be around 40%": Assam CM

Guwahati (Assam) [India], December 27 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday raised concerns over what he described as a major demographic shift in the state, alleging that years of "appeasement politics" by the Congress had led to the emergence of a "new civilisation" that threatens Assam's social and cultural fabric.
Speaking at the Assam State BJP Executive Meeting held at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Sarma cited census data to underline his claims. He said that as per the 2011 Census, Muslims constituted around 34 per cent of Assam's population.
"If we exclude about three per cent Assamese Muslims from this figure, the Bangladeshi-origin Muslim population stood at around 31 per cent at that time," he said.
Pointing out that the Census could not be conducted in 2021, the Chief Minister claimed that the Muslim population in Assam has historically grown by nearly four per cent in every census cycle.
"When the next census report comes out in 2027, the Bangladeshi-origin Muslim population could be close to 40 per cent," Sarma alleged, terming this trend a "conspiracy to weaken our community".
The CM further asserted that the issue was not merely political but civilisational. "A new civilisation of nearly 1.5 crore people has gradually been created due to the appeasement policies of the Congress," he said, adding that such policies had long-term consequences for Assam's identity.
Sarma also spoke at length about Assam's cultural and historical icons, cautioning against attempts to blur historical narratives.
"In Assam, we have the legacy of Sankar and Madhab (Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva and Mahapurush Madhabdev). There was no concept of Sankar-Azan," he said. While acknowledging the presence of Azan Fakir in Assam's history, Sarma said his contributions should be seen in their own context.
Referring to legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, Sarma said, "We should not weaken our fight by attaching unrelated figures to Lachit's legacy. We want to see Lachit as the hero who defeated the Mughals." (ANI)