Guwahati, Aug 15: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday warned of a possible demographic shift in the state, urging people and the administration to remain vigilant against what he described as the threat posed by illegal infiltration.Addressing an Independence Day function at Khanapara in Guwahati, Sarma said Assam could witness major changes in its political and social landscape if the issue was not addressed immediately.“In just 15 years, 80 per cent of the state’s ministers will be from them.
And within two decades, this national flag on Independence Day will be hoisted by a chief minister from the unknown community,” he said.Sarma said he was not prepared to accept such a situation and asserted that the people of Assam should remain alert about the state’s demographic changes.Later, in a post on X, the chief minister reiterated his concern, saying that if action was not taken, Assam’s demography could change to such an extent that the state could eventually have a chief minister from what he termed the “community of infiltrators”.Sarma also directed the state bureaucracy to ensure that no further government land was encroached upon.“I urge the bureaucracy to not compromise on their responsibilities.
No new inch of land should go under encroachment. My government will take a serious view of this,” he said.Appealing to people not to sell their land for short-term financial gains, Sarma urged them to remain cautious about land transactions involving alleged illegal infiltrators.He said the government had already cleared encroachments from around 1.2 lakh bighas of land as part of its efforts to protect public and community-owned land.“We have to fight against illegal infiltrators.
If we stay silent and don’t speak up, within the next decade, the Assam we know of will completely change,” Sarma said, calling upon people to remain aware of the issue.The chief minister further asserted that his government would continue eviction drives from grazing grounds, tribal belts and government land.He also alleged that the group he referred to as “unknown people” had expanded its influence in the economic sphere, particularly in the construction sector, and was now attempting to gain political influence.
“These unknown people are advancing to capture political power now, after almost capturing economic power. They have captured every sphere of the construction sector. We cannot remain silent,” he said.Sarma’s remarks came as part of his Independence Day address, in which he also called for stronger administrative action to protect Assam’s land and demographic interests.
