Guwahati, February 6: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched a sharp political attack on the Congress, demanding that the party under the leadership of Gaurav Gogoi clearly state whether it stands with the indigenous Assamese people or with the Miya community.
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| Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma speaks to the media in Dergaon, questioning the Congress on whether it stands with the indigenous Assamese people or the Miya community. |
Addressing the media after distributing cheques to women beneficiaries under state empowerment schemes in Dergaon, Sarma alleged that the Congress has undergone a fundamental ideological and organisational shift under Gogoi’s leadership.
“The Congress party must clarify its stand in advance - whether it is on the side of the Assamese people or on the side of the Miyas. This question has become unavoidable today,” the Chief Minister said.
Raising concerns over demographic changes and land pressure, Sarma alleged that what he described as infiltration has resulted in large-scale encroachment of land in Assam. He claimed that nearly 3.2 million bighas of land have been occupied over time.
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“Earlier, such settlements were largely confined to areas like Barpeta and Dhubri. Now we are seeing a movement towards places like Duliajan and Margherita,” he said. “If this continues, where will the indigenous people of Assam stay, and where will they go?”
The remarks are expected to further intensify the political discourse in the state ahead of upcoming electoral and policy debates, with issues of land, identity and demographic change remaining central to Assam’s political landscape.
