Himanta’s Dire Warning: Assam’s Identity at Stake in 20 Years

On India’s 79th Independence Day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a stark warning, declaring that if Assamese people remain silent, a chief minister from an “unknown community” could hoist the national flag in 20 years. Speaking after unfurling the tricolour in Guwahati on August 15, 2025, Sarma, without explicitly naming Bengali-speaking Muslims, repeatedly referenced “unknown people” as a threat to Assam’s demography, urging indigenous communities to fight for their survival by reclaiming every inch of encroached land.

Sarma vowed to clear 1.2 lakh bighas (over 16,000 hectares) of encroached land, framing it as part of a broader battle against “land jihad” and “love jihad” that he claims threatens Assamese identity. “These unknown people have changed the demography of lower and central Assam and now eye upper and north Assam,” he asserted, alleging their dominance in construction, legal advocacy, and cab driving. He warned that indigenous Assamese, now 60% of the population, risk becoming a minority within a decade, with 80% of ministers potentially from this “unknown” group in 15 years.

The Chief Minister tied Assam’s future to recent delimitation efforts, claiming they “secure” the state for indigenous people for decades. He appealed to Assamese communities not to sell land or rent properties to “unknown” groups, suggesting such actions could delay the demographic crisis by 20 years. Sarma criticized past compromises, alleging that “unknown” groups have encroached on cultural sites like Srimanta Sankardeva’s birthplace and even threatened Kamakhya’s Nilachal Hill.

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Opposition leaders, including Congress’s Debabrata Saikia, condemned Sarma’s rhetoric as divisive, accusing him of stoking communal tensions for political gain. On X, Saikia posted, “Sarma’s fearmongering undermines Assam’s unity.” CPI(M) leaders echoed this, calling the speech a “dog whistle” against minorities. Conversely, BJP supporters, like user @AssamPride, praised Sarma on X, stating, “Himanta is protecting Assam’s indigenous identity from infiltrators.”

Sarma highlighted past government failures, holding district commissioners accountable for future encroachments and praising those who safeguarded satras (Vaishnavite monasteries). He claimed the Assamese have faced a 75-year crisis due to welcoming “unknown” groups, who he alleged exploited cultural and economic spaces.

The speech sparked polarized reactions. Supporters rallied behind Sarma’s call to protect “jati, mati, bheti” (community, land, homeland), while critics, including historian Dr. Arup Saikia, warned on X that such rhetoric risks alienating communities and fueling unrest. Sarma’s pledge to intensify evictions and restrict land sales to outsiders, including through tribal belts and blocks, underscores his aggressive stance, but it raises concerns about social cohesion as Assam navigates its complex demographic landscape.

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