Guwahati, October 10: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday claimed that the Miya Muslim community is projected to become the largest in the state, with their population share expected to rise to around 38 percent in the upcoming census.
Speaking at a public meeting in Dibrugarh, Sarma said, “This time, when the census takes place and the results are out, it will be found that the percentage of the Miya community has increased to 38 percent. If any statistical department makes a projection, it will clearly show that they are set to become the largest community in Assam — and that is the truth.”
He stressed that Assam’s indigenous population would remain secure “only if the Miya Muslims are kept under pressure,” urging the need for a new law in the Legislative Assembly to protect the interests of the indigenous Assamese people.
The Chief Minister also reiterated his government’s strict stance on land encroachment, stating, “Eviction notices have already been issued in Goalpara and Behali. We are not stopping any work. The pressure on illegal encroachments will continue.”
Sarma’s comments have triggered sharp political reactions across the state. While critics have condemned the remarks as “divisive and communal,” supporters have defended them as a “bold and realistic acknowledgment” of Assam’s changing demographic landscape.
