Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has recently accused certain activists, the Congress party, and foreign elements of conspiring to destabilize the state. Sarma alleges that these groups are working in conjunction with individuals from Bangladesh and Pakistan to weaken Assam.

According to Sarma, these entities are actively attempting to create unrest within Assam. He specifically named activists like Harsh Mander and Prashant Bhushan, as well as the Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind, as being involved in this alleged conspiracy. Sarma claimed that these individuals have been visiting various parts of Assam since Saturday, August 23, 2025, with the intention of spreading unrest. He added that the government is closely monitoring their movements to prevent them from succeeding in their alleged plans.

Sarma stated that these groups are primarily meeting with leaders from the minority community and Jamaat-e-Islami in Assam, with the goal of creating an atmosphere of unrest. He drew a parallel to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process, suggesting that similar tactics were being employed to disrupt the state. Sarma's comments came amidst rising tensions in Assam, particularly concerning eviction drives carried out by the state government. These drives, aimed at clearing encroachment on forestlands and government lands, have been criticized by opposition parties and organizations for allegedly targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims.

In response to Sarma's accusations, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan has leveled counter-allegations against the Chief Minister. Bhushan accused Sarma of engaging in "lawless and illegal activities," including illegal evictions, land grabs, and attempts to hand over tribal lands to corporations. He further claimed that Sarma is trying to hide these activities from the outside world and prevent independent scrutiny. Bhushan also criticized the Assam government for registering sedition cases against journalists.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to which Sarma belongs, has also demanded the arrest of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind functionary Mahmood Madani for allegedly comparing the state-led eviction drives with the Israel-Palestine conflict. The BJP state spokesperson, Jayanta Kumar Goswami, called Madani's remarks an "attack on the self-respect of the Assamese people".

Meanwhile, Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, a rival of Sarma, cautioned the Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind against interfering in Assam's political matters. Gogoi acknowledged that Sarma is an "uncultured and uncivilised person". However, he warned that the Jamiat's involvement could exacerbate existing Hindu-Muslim tensions and be exploited by the BJP to fuel further unrest.

The recent developments have further heightened the political climate in Assam. Protests have erupted in response to Jamiat chief's call for Sarma's resignation. The All Assam Nath Yogi Students' Union (AANYSU) staged a protest, burning an effigy of Madani. The AANYSU president, Arvinda Nath, asserted that Assam would not accept external political interference. Sarma has vowed to protect Assam's land and culture and has called for unity to defeat what he sees as a conspiracy against the state. He has also stated that the names of evicted people will be removed from the voter list.