Guwahati, 15 August (HS): Delivering his Independence Day address in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned that in two decades, the state could see a Chief Minister from what he repeatedly described as “unknown people” if the indigenous Assamese society does not act now.
Although he refrained from naming a specific community, the remark—echoed several times during his speech—appeared to be directed towards Bengali-speaking Muslims. Later, in a post on X, Sarma stated that without corrective measures, “even the Chief Minister will be from the community of infiltrators.”
Calling for a pledge to safeguard Assam’s land, identity and culture, Sarma announced his government’s resolve to clear encroachments from all types of land—grazing, tribal, and government-owned. He cited the removal of 1.2 lakh bighas of occupied land so far, terming the drive part of a battle against “land jihad.”
The Chief Minister alleged that lower and central Assam had already undergone demographic transformation and warned that upper and north Assam were next. “In 10 years, we will lose our jati, mati, bheti. In 15 years, 80% of ministers will belong to them. In 20 years, the Chief Minister will be from the unknown community,” he said.
Sarma urged indigenous residents not to sell land or property to “unknown” groups, arguing that economic self-reliance could counter the perceived demographic challenge. He blamed earlier generations for what he called “compromises” that allowed outsiders to settle and accused them of enabling cultural encroachment, including “love jihad.”
He also warned of potential “aggression” at other cultural and religious centres if vigilance wanes, citing Batadrava as an example. According to him, sectors like education, law and transportation were already witnessing growing dominance by the “unknown people.”
District commissioners, Sarma directed, must ensure that government lands remain free from encroachment or face strict consequences. He concluded his speech by commending those who resisted pressures to abandon Assamese cultural institutions, declaring: “This is a fight for survival—not with weapons, but with determination. Silence will be the end of the Assamese people.”
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
