Assam Chief Minister Warns of Demographic Shifts
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Guwahati, Dec 10 (NationPress) Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Tuesday that even after years of the Assam movement, the state remains under the threat of demographic changes, with the local populace losing their land.
He remarked, “The Assam Movement was a response aimed at safeguarding Assam and its residents from the impacts of illegal migration. However, despite decades of struggle, uncertainty still looms over Assam. The state continues to confront demographic threats.”
As per Sarma, the indigenous Assamese community is increasingly losing their rights to land. To counter this, the state government is taking measures to protect the land rights of its citizens.
Despite facing criticism, the government successfully evicted illegal settlers from Gorukhuti.
He noted that over the past three years, the government has worked tirelessly to uphold the land rights of the native people, successfully evicting all illegal encroachments in Kaziranga.
Today, Sarma participated in the observance of “Swahid Divas” organized by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha at Jamugurihat in Sonitpur district.
Paying homage to all martyrs of the Assam Movement who sacrificed their lives for land protection, the CM stated, “Swahid Divas is a significant occasion to honor the monumental contributions of those who defended the dignity of Assam.”
He added, “We must remember the tragic past when over 800 innocent and patriotic individuals from Assam were killed in their quest to uphold the pride of their cherished state.”
Remembering the ultimate sacrifice of Khargeswar Talukdar, the first martyr of the Assam Agitation, the Chief Minister stated that his sacrifice cast a shadow of sorrow over both the state and the nation.
He acknowledged that inspired by Talukdar, more than 800 martyrs dedicated their lives to the cause of Assam.
Sarma also affirmed that the state government is committed to working diligently for the welfare of Assam's residents, ensuring the preservation of their identity and promoting development. The government is also pursuing delimitation efforts to mitigate the impact of infiltrators. Additionally, the state has successfully reclaimed 10,000 hectares of land from encroachment.
He mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the delimitation process across all 126 Legislative Assembly constituencies in Assam has secured at least 105 constituencies for the indigenous populace.
A movement aimed at preserving the Assamese language, land, and identity surged across Assam from 1979 to 1985.
Students statewide, led by AASU, were instrumental in the Assam Agitation, advocating for government action to halt illegal immigration from neighboring countries while safeguarding the land, language, and cultural identity of the Assamese populace.
Despite facing police violence, AASU leaders organized protests during a period marked by rising regionalism throughout the state.
The Assam Accord, signed on August 15, 1985, marked the conclusion of the student agitation after numerous activists sacrificed their lives in the struggle.
