Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam Chief Minister) on Wednesday said that “demographic invasion” was being witnessed in most of the states of the country due to the infiltration of illegal Bangladeshis.
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Himanta Biswa Sarma:
Source: prokerala.com
He was born on February 1, 1969. He is an Indian politician and lawyer who has been the 15th Chief Minister of Assam since 2021. He was born into an Assamese family with roots in Latima, in the Nalbari district.
Formerly a member of the Indian National Congress, Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on August 23, 2015, and was soon appointed as the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
He has been elected as a Member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from the Jalukbari constituency five times, beginning in 2001.
He was first elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Jalukbari constituency in 2001, defeating Asom Gana Parishad leader Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. Again in 2006, he was re-elected; then in 2011, he succeeded with a huge victory by 78,000 votes.
He had been entrusted with various critical portfolios both as a state and cabinet minister from 2002 to 2014, including Agriculture, Planning and Development, Finance, Health, Education, and Assam Accord Implementation.
Sarma was sworn in as Cabinet Minister for Health in the year 2006. Five years later, in 2011, he was again handed the additional portfolio of Education.
On August 23, 2015, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the New Delhi residence of Amit Shah. Subsequently, he was made Convener of the Election Management Committee of the party for the forthcoming state Assembly elections.
May 2016 saw him win the Jalukbari constituency for the fourth consecutive term and was sworn in on the 24th of May as Cabinet Minister in the Sonowal ministry—the first BJP government in North East India. He was entrusted with key portfolios: Minister of Finance, Health & Family Welfare, Education, Planning & Development, Tourism, and Pension & Public Grievances.
On 23 April 2017, Himanta Biswa Sarma had been unanimously elected as the President of Badminton Association of India. In June 2016, he also assumed the charge as the President of the Assam Cricket Association, with his party colleague Pradip Buragohain as secretary.
Himanta Biswa Sarma took oath as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam, on May 10, 2021. He succeeded Sarbananda Sonowal. PM Modi congratulated him for taking oath as CM.
What did the Assam CM say in the Guwahati press meet?
Source: hindupost
At the press conference, the Chief Minister termed the situation as precarious and asked the Centre to strengthen the border with Bangladesh, especially in states like West Bengal, “before the situation worsens further.”
Earlier in July, Sarma said the Muslim population in Assam was 14 percent in 1951, which is now 40 per cent, adding that infiltration from Bangladesh is the reason for the surge.
He said, “I believe the Rohingyas are exploiting the porous border between India and Bangladesh.” While we are sealing the border in Assam, our state represents just a part of the whole India-Bangladesh border.”.
He had also commented about the recent arrests of a few Bangladeshis and Rohingyas who were entering India without valid documents in Tripura. Infiltration of Rohingyas into India has increased a lot, he said and added that one such network was dismantled by Assam Police last year and the investigation is currently being pursued by NIA.
He said, “I believe the government of India must strengthen our border with Bangladesh, particularly West Bengal. When the Chief Minister of West Bengal openly declares that she would continue to give shelter to Bangladeshi nationals, it arouses questions in the minds of citizens regarding our commitment to dealing with infiltration. This is an honest and serious threat, and I had seen the demographic invasion in Assam, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.”.
“The statement by the West Bengal Chief Minister, promising rehabilitation for Bangladeshis, itself indicates that the stand of the state government is one of leniency on infiltration. The demographic changes in West Bengal are occurring at a fast pace as well,” Sarma added.
Suggestions by the Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma:
The Chief Minister felt that demographic changes can be gauged from a comparative study between the voter lists of 2019 elections and that of 2024, for calculating the percentage increase of voters of particular religious communities.
He also informed that in Assam, the special branch of police will take up a project to compare the voter lists from 2001-2014 and 2014-2024 to analyse the changes in religious break-up.
“The 2021 Census will reveal a shocking demographic change in eastern India, I am sure,” he said. I believe that the situation is quite grave and serious. Demographic invasion is genuine. Because of the appeasement policy, we are unable to control it.”
He said that while the people of Assam are aware of this demographic invasion, it is not highly recognized in these other states.
He added, “We warned that the issues we faced in Assam during the Assam Agitation against illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh between 1979 and 1985 could spread to the entire country if illegal infiltration was not curtailed.”
“At that time, the Congress didn’t take our predictions seriously. But today, the country is reaping the consequences. It can be seen in Haryana, Delhi, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Many states are reeling under the demographic invasion.”
Link to the X post by the Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma about the press conference in Guwahati:
https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1818656646064677219?t=n9xPjXiJ7_pJqpJH6O-6CA&s=08
