Guwahati, Aug 25: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday criticised Syeda Hameed for allegedly encouraging illegal migration into Assam under the pretext of humanity.
Sarma noted that Hameed, a close aide of Sonia Gandhi and former Planning Commission member under Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, had been invited to Assam multiple times by former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
The controversy erupted after Syeda Hameed remarked that Bangladeshis have a right to reside in the state. Her comments came amid ongoing eviction drives against illegal immigrants.
Hameed accused the Assam government of targeting Muslims by labelling them as Bangladeshis. She said, “What is wrong if they are Bangladeshis? Bangladeshis are also humans. The earth is vast; they can live here. Claiming they are depriving anyone of rights is mischievous and detrimental to humanity.”
Addressing journalists at an event on the politics of polarisation and alleged victimisation of Bengali-speaking Muslims, Hameed suggested India had ample space to accommodate people from other countries.
“She has said that Bangladeshis are also human beings and should be allowed to stay in Assam. If that is the case, then people of Assam could move to Bangladesh while Bangladeshis settle here. This is the dangerous mindset of the Congress and the so-called Nagarik Committee,” Assam Chief Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Responding on social media platform X, Sarma said: “People like Syeda Hameed, close to the Gandhi family, legitimise illegal infiltrators, pursuing Jinnah’s dream of making Assam part of Pakistan. Today, Assamese identity is on the brink of extinction because of tacit support from people like her.”
“But we are the sons and daughters of Lachit Barphukan, WE WILL FIGHT till the last drop of our blood to save our State and our identity. Let me make it very clear, Bangladeshis are not welcome in Assam, it is not their land. Anyone sympathising with them may accommodate them in their own backyards. Assam is not up for grabs by illegal infiltrators, NOT NOW, NOT EVER,” he further wrote.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in, calling Hameed’s remarks “misleading in the name of humanity” and emphasising that the issue is about “our land and identity.” He added, “It is not about religion, but our land. If Assam becomes demographically vulnerable, the remaining North Eastern states face a direct threat to their security. Rahul Gandhi and his allies want illegal migrants on the voter list to gain citizenship.”
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) urged Hameed to refrain from making what it called “anti-Assam and anti-India” statements.
“No sensible person can claim it is not a crime for Bangladeshis to live in Assam,” AASU president Utpal Sarma said. He added that Hameed had insulted the 860 martyrs of the Assam Agitation (1979-85), which primarily sought the removal of illegal residents from the state.
Utpal Sarma highlighted that indigenous communities in several districts of Assam have become minorities due to the influx from Bangladesh, with Muslim populations in some districts exceeding 50%. “The Gauhati High Court has noted that Bangladeshis are enrolling in voter lists and have become kingmakers. The threat to our language, economy, and political rights cannot concern only us,” he said.
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