Guwahati, July 19: A fierce political confrontation has erupted between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over issues of identity, border infiltration, and linguistic rights, escalating tensions between the two neighbouring states headed for Assembly elections in 2026.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Assam CM Sarma said,
“Didi, let me remind you—in Assam, we are not fighting our own people. We are fearlessly resisting the ongoing, unchecked Muslim infiltration from across the border, which has already caused an alarming demographic shift. In several districts, Hindus are now on the verge of becoming a minority in their own land.”
He added, “This is not a political narrative—it’s a reality. Even the Supreme Court of India has termed such infiltration as external aggression. And yet, when we rise to defend our land, culture, and identity, you choose to politicise it.” Sarma emphasised that Assam has historically welcomed all communities—”Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Hindi—all languages and communities have coexisted here. But no civilisation can survive if it refuses to protect its borders and its cultural foundation.”
Didi, let me remind you—
In Assam, we are not fighting our own people. We are fearlessly resisting the ongoing, unchecked Muslim infiltration from across the border, which has already caused an alarming demographic shift. In several districts, Hindus are now on the verge of… https://t.co/mwqs398RKE
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 19, 2025
The confrontation was sparked by Mamata Banerjee, who earlier posted on X:
“The second most spoken language in India is Bangla, and it is also the second most spoken language in Assam. To threaten citizens who want to coexist peacefully, respecting all languages and religions, with persecution for upholding their own mother tongue is discriminatory and unconstitutional.”
She warned against rising linguistic and religious discrimination, stating, “This divisive agenda of the BJP in Assam has crossed all limits. People of Assam will fight back. I stand with every fearless citizen who is fighting for the dignity of their language and identity, and their democratic rights.”
Sarma hit back, accusing Mamata Banerjee of compromising Bengal’s future for political gains.
“While we are acting decisively to preserve Assam’s identity, you, Didi, have compromised Bengal’s future—encouraging illegal encroachment by a particular community, appeasing one religious community for vote banks, and remaining silent as border infiltration eats away at national integrity—all just to stay in power.”
He concluded, “Assam will continue to fight to preserve its heritage, its dignity, and its people—with courage and constitutional clarity.”
The war of words comes shortly after Mamata led a protest rally in Kolkata, condemning what she described as the growing targeting of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. “If such harassment continues, protests will erupt across the country,” she warned.
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