- Eviction Drives Evolve into Grassroots Social Movement

Guwahati (Assam), 03 August (HS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assam Pradesh, has stated that the eviction drives currently underway in several districts — including Dhubri, Goalpara, and Golaghat — are reshaping the social fabric of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). In a press release from the BJP State headquarters at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, party spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sharma claimed that what began as a legal effort to reclaim encroached government land has now evolved into a broad-based social movement, particularly supported by indigenous communities.

Sharma highlighted the enthusiastic public participation during Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s visit to Udalguri on August 2, where he attended a ‘Vijay Sankalp Sabha’ under the banner “BJP for Progressive BTR.” Thousands of residents lined the roads from Khalingduar to Mangaldoi, welcoming the CM with garlands, gamochas, and vocal support. Many reportedly urged him to extend eviction efforts into parts of the BTR region as well.

Notably, large gatherings were seen at key points such as Balipara and Khairapara on the Kalaigaon-Bengmari route, where the public expressed strong backing for the government’s stance on illegal encroachments. In a symbolic show of unity, members of the local Muslim community in Mangaldoi — the hometown of Language Movement martyr Mozammil Hoque — were also reported to have joined the gathering.

In Nagrijuli, popular singer and comedian Bulbul Hussain led a group that momentarily stopped the Chief Minister’s convoy to show support for the eviction campaign and called for its intensification. Similar demonstrations have emerged across other districts including Dhemaji, Sivasagar, and Jorhat, which the BJP spokesperson described as spontaneous and unprecedented.

Sharma noted that while street protests typically challenge government decisions, this time the public is rallying behind the administration, endorsing its actions and identifying with its objectives.

As part of its BTR election preparations, the BJP has launched a series of ‘Vijay Sankalp Sabhas’ across all five BTR districts, led by CM Dr. Sarma and State BJP President and MP Dilip Saikia. On August 2, meetings were held in Khalingduar and Muduibari-Harisinga (Udalguri). On August 3, events took place in Darangajuli, Nagrijuli, and Shuklai-Serfang (Tamulpur).

The campaign will continue on August 4 in Mushalpur and Mathanguri (Baksa), August 5 in Thuribari, Subaijhar, and Manas-Serfang (Chirang), and August 10 in Dihira and Koklabari. Kokrajhar district is scheduled to hold sabhas in all 12 council constituencies on August 7, 12, and 19.

The BJP claims the campaign is gathering momentum ahead of the BTR elections, interpreting the public enthusiasm as a mandate for continued evictions and wider governance reforms.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash