'Shout as much as you want...I won't let Muslims take over Assam,' was Himanta's vehement reply to Congress.

 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a strong statement on Tuesday, declaring that he would not permit Muslims to take control of the state. During a session in the assembly, Sarma dismissed the objections raised by Congress members, asserting that he would not allow Assam to become 'Miya Bhoomi,' a term he used to refer to an area dominated by Muslims. "I will take sides, what can you do about it? I won’t let 'Miya' Muslims take over Assam," he emphasized in response to criticism from Congress members. Later, he reiterated his stance in a tweet, sharing a brief video of his speech in the assembly and stating, "Let the Congressmen shout and scream as much as they want; I will not let Assam become 'Miya Bhoomi'."

'Shout as much as you want...I won't let Muslims take over Assam,' was Himanta's vehement reply to Congress.

The Chief Minister's remarks came during a debate on adjournment motions introduced by opposition parties, including Congress, AIUDF, CPI(M), and an Independent legislator, Akhil Gogoi, to discuss the law and order situation in Assam, particularly in the context of the recent rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon. Addressing these motions, Sarma argued that the crime rate had not increased when considering the overall population growth.

In response to accusations from the opposition of being biased, Sarma asserted, "I will take sides. What can you do about it?" He further questioned, "Why should people from Lower Assam move to Upper Assam? Is it so that 'Miya' Muslims can take over Assam? We will not let this happen," reinforcing his position against what he perceives as a demographic shift in the state.

Sarma has previously expressed concerns about the growing Muslim population in Assam. In July, he warned that if current trends continued, Assam could become a Muslim-majority state by 2041. He pointed out that the Muslim population in Assam was increasing at a rate of 30% every decade. "In 2011, the Muslim population was 1.4 crore. The Hindu population is growing at 16%. Every ten years, the Muslim population, compared to Hindus, grows by 16%. From 2011 to 2021, it increased by 22 lakh. From 2021 to 2031, it will increase by another 22 lakh. And from 2031 to 2041, it will rise by yet another 22 lakh. This is statistically possible," he stated.

He further elaborated, "The increase in the Muslim population in Assam is a statistical fact. The rate of increase for Muslims is significantly higher than that for Hindus, and at this rate, they will become the majority by 2041." After facing criticism from Congress, Sarma referred to an analysis by Mrinal Talukdar, a well-known Assamese journalist, which suggested that Assam could transition to a Muslim-majority state by 2051. "Ignoring these demographic changes won't change the reality. Congress's approach to minority appeasement is dangerously shortsighted," he concluded.