In what can be seen as emotionally charged Independence Day speech, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave a stern warning on what he described as a "demographic threat" posed by "unknown people," urging the state’s indigenous population to rise in defense of their identity, land, and culture and not remain silent.
Hoisting the national flag at the official celebration in Guwahati on Friday, Sarma declared that Assam is facing an existential crisis. While he did not explicitly name the group he referred to as 'unknown people,' his repeated use of the phrase, coupled with pointed references, clearly alluded to Bengali-speaking Muslims, whom he accused of illegal encroachment and infiltration.
He emphasised that if the current trends continue unchecked, the state's identity, land, and foundation will be lost forever .Sarma highlighted the threat posed by "unknown people" or infiltrators, who he claims are aggressively taking over land, economic spaces, and cultural institutions in Assam."Assam can't remain silent. If we remain silent, one day we will have to lose our Jati, Mati, Bheti (Community, Land, Foundation) in our own state.
“This is not just a political issue, it is a battle for our very existence,” Sarma told the crowd. “If we remain silent, within the next decade, we will lose our identity, our land, and everything that makes us Assamese. Even the sacred Nilachal Hills of Kamakhya may not be spared.”Sarma warned that if current trends continue unchecked, within 20 years, the national flag in Assam may be hoisted by a chief minister from what he described as the “community of infiltrators.”
He stated that successive governments had failed to address illegal immigration over the past 78 years, leading to a drastic demographic shift, especially in lower and central Assam. The Chief Minister claimed that Assamese people now make up just 60% of the state's population.Referring to what he called “land jihad,” Sarma accused infiltrators of taking over not just land but also gaining control of economic and cultural spaces in Assam.
“Just like love jihad, land jihad is a direct attack on our identity. They’ve infiltrated the construction industry, our courts, and even the taxi services. Where did they come from?” he asked.He also pointed fingers at certain Assamese nationalists and left-leaning intellectuals, accusing them of having “surrendered” to infiltrators.
“The demography has changed in central Assam. Now their eyes are on upper and north Assam. We have declared war against this aggression,” he said. “We will not compromise. We will not allow our homeland to be taken.”He also warned district commissioners that they would be held accountable if future encroachments occur under their watch.Making a direct appeal to the indigenous population, Sarma said:“Do not sell even a small portion of land to unknown buyers. If we pledge today not to sell land or rent houses to them, we can push this danger further away.”
The Chief Minister’s speech struck a deeply emotional chord, invoking Assam’s spiritual heritage, including references to saint-scholar Srimanta Sankardeva, and highlighting the perceived erosion of Assamese identity. His rhetoric, however, has drawn criticism in the past for stoking fears and deepening communal divides.
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