Himanta Sarma’s White Paper on Demographic Changes: Addressing Concerns Over Assam’s Population Dynamics

Himanta Sarma to Release Comprehensive White Paper on Assam’s Demographic Shifts Amid Concerns Over Rising Muslim Population and Declining Hindu Numbers

Speaking to the media, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he plans to release a white paper in the April-May period of the next financial year on demographic changes in Assam with a focus on how the Muslim population has risen and the Hindu population has declined. Sarma clarified that this document is designed to give a credible picture of the changing demographic imperatives in Assam or as he thinks that presents a rather daunting picture for the state.

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Sarma also stressed that the white paper, to be released soon, will explain how the place has become majority Muslim in areas which were once predominantly dominated by Hindus. In spite of these changes, he pointed out that cordial relationship has been sustained with no repeat of killings between the two groups. But, Sarma raised some concern on what he termed ‘reverse situation’ in some of these areas that looks more detrimental than the actual.

The chief minister, who has received flak for supposedly polarising religious factions, however, has said that his work to strengthen inter-group bonds is in the name of fostering cohesiveness and harmony. He promised that there would be many “interesting facts” in the ensuing white paper and that there are shocking shifts in the demographics of the state. Sarma gave many details to support his statement, for example, of 28 thousand polling booths in the state of Assam only 19 thousand have been shifted; such a figure should draw the attention of all political parties.

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Sarma said that he wanted the Opposition Congress to consider this as a battle not of political war but as a battle for this country. He appealed to everybody in making sure that people should be able to go on living in their current neighborhoods feeling insecure due to demography.

The recent comments by the chief minister, especially the statement of not allowing ‘Miyas’, the derogatory term often used for Bengali Muslims, to ‘capture’ Assam, have raised controversy recently. These comments are made when tension was rising up after giving an ultimatum to the Muslim community to leave nine districts in Upper Assam in one week. Sarma’s statements have drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, who accused him of making communal and unconstitutional remarks. The United Opposition Forum Assam, comprising 18 national and regional parties, is reportedly planning to take legal action against him.

On the legislative front, Sarma clarified that his government is not pursuing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at this time, despite earlier suggestions that such a code might be implemented in Assam. Instead, the government’s focus is on curbing child marriages and empowering women. He also mentioned a bill introduced in the state assembly requiring compulsory registration of Muslim marriages and divorces, which he believes will pave the way for a future law banning polygamy.

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Sarma reiterated his commitment to protecting Assam’s indigenous identity and culture, stating that his government is working on several legislative measures aimed at achieving this goal. These include bills to regulate inter-religion marriages, reserve certain jobs for domiciles, and protect tribal lands and heritage sites. He also raised concerns about the infiltration of Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingyas into Assam, which he attributed to political and economic instability in neighboring countries.

As Sarma prepares to present the white paper next year, it is clear that the issue of demographic change in Assam will remain a focal point of his administration’s agenda, with implications for the state’s social and political landscape.

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