GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has projected that the ‘Miya-Muslim’ community could comprise 38% of the state’s total population by the time the next census results are released. Speaking in Dibrugarh, Sarma also revealed the state government’s intention to introduce two new legislative measures in the upcoming assembly session. These laws are designed to protect the state’s indigenous population amidst perceived demographic changes.
“The results of the next census for Assam will show that the population of Miya-Muslims in the state would be 38%. You can note this statement of mine,” Sarma informed reporters on the sidelines of a government event.
The term ‘Miya’ is often used pejoratively in Assam to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims whose origins trace back to Bangladesh or former East Pakistan. Under current laws, individuals who entered Assam from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971, are considered foreigners.
Sarma further elaborated on the projection, stating, “If a projection is made by statisticians, (it will show) that they (Miya-Muslims) would become the single largest community in Assam. This is a fact.”
Citing data from the 2011 census, Hindus constituted 61.47% of Assam’s population, while Muslims made up 34.22%. This Muslim population figure includes both long-standing indigenous communities with Assamese as their mother tongue and Bengali-speaking migrants who have settled in the state over the last century.
In response to the anticipated demographic shift, Sarma stated, “In view of that (rise in population of Miya-Muslims) and in order to protect our people, we have been taking actions in the past five years. In the upcoming assembly session, to tackle such a problem, two important pieces of legislation would be introduced.” He added that further legislation would be introduced to protect the state’s ‘jati, mati, bheti’ (race, land, homeland).
The Chief Minister also criticized past Congress governments, suggesting that the current concerns might have been avoided if timely action had been taken.
“A war has now started, and we now have to take it to its expected goal. The actions we have been taking will lead to better days, but they will have to be continued for another 10 years. We need to keep the Miyas under pressure, as we are doing now. If that continues, this situation will be better,” Sarma asserted, emphasizing the continuation of eviction drives against alleged illegal encroachers, particularly those suspected to be from Bangladesh.