Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has voiced strong concerns regarding the shifting demographic landscape of Assam, particularly the increase in the population of what he describes as "Bangladeshi-origin Muslims". Speaking at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) core committee meeting in Guwahati on Saturday, December 27, 2025, Sarma claimed that this population could reach 40% by the time the next census report is released in 2027.
Sarma referenced the 2011 census, which recorded Assam's Muslim population at 34%. He further stated that if Assamese Muslims are excluded, the figure for Muslims of Bangladeshi origin would be around 31%. With the 2021 census delayed, Sarma anticipates a nearly 4% increase in this population by 2027. He views this trend as a "conspiracy to weaken our community".
The Chief Minister attributed this demographic shift to the "appeasement politics" and "weaknesses" of the Indian National Congress, alleging that it has led to the emergence of a "new civilisation" comprising 1.5 crore people in Assam. He warned of potential political consequences if the population of Bangladeshi-origin Muslims surpasses 50%, possibly leading to attempts to integrate Assam into Bangladesh. He claimed that there was no state in the world where the population of indigenous communities had dropped below 60 per cent of the total population.
Sarma has framed the issue as a "civilizational battle" to protect the identity, land, and culture of the Assamese people. He has emphasized the importance of preserving Assamese heritage and cautioned against what he sees as attempts to distort historical narratives. He rejected the narrative of Assam as the land of 'Sankar-Azan,' (Vaishnav saint Sankardeva and Sufi saint Azan Fakir), and said it was the land of 'Sankar-Madhav' (referring to Sankardeva's illustrious disciple Madhavdeva).
The Assam government has continued its policy of evicting alleged infiltrators to send a "strong message" to Bangladesh. Sarma has also accused the Congress party of supporting these infiltrators.
These statements follow earlier warnings from Sarma about the potential for Assam to become part of Bangladesh if the number of immigrants increases significantly. He was responding to comments made by a Bangladeshi politician, Hasnat Abdullah, who said that if the Bangladeshi-origin population in Assam increased by 10%, the region would automatically be included with Bangladesh. Sarma has been raising concerns about Assam's demographic changes for the past five years.
Sarma's comments have sparked debate and highlight the sensitive issue of demographic change and its potential impact on the region's social and political fabric.
