Guwahati, Feb 17: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday raised concerns over illegal migration from Bangladesh, alleging that the state has witnessed a significant increase in its Muslim population due to infiltration over the years.
Addressing the issue, Sarma blamed previous Congress-led governments for allowing demographic changes to take root, calling the overall condition of Assam “not very good.” He claimed a substantial portion of the state’s Muslim population comprises illegal migrants, with only a small fraction aligned with national interests.
Sarma warned that illegal migration poses serious security risks, asserting that some infiltrators could potentially support Bangladesh in any future conflict. He emphasised that curbing illegal entry remains one of the top priorities of his administration to protect Assam’s identity, land, and resources.
The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s ongoing measures, including strengthened border surveillance, eviction drives against encroachment, and updates to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), aimed at mitigating the impact of cross-border infiltration and safeguarding the state’s demographic balance.