Assam CM Addresses Immigration and Regional Stability Concerns

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma discussed regional immigration issues, asserting no recent Hindu migration from instability-ridden Bangladesh, while highlighting arrests of Muslim infiltrators seeking jobs in India's textile sector. Sarma emphasized efforts to streamline citizenship processes for Bengali Hindus and the potential impact of Bangladesh's regime change on northeastern insurgency.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed on Saturday that Hindus have not tried to enter India from Bangladesh despite the neighbouring country experiencing instability.

"Hindus are staying and fighting in Bangladesh. In the last month, not a single Hindu person has been detected trying to enter India," Sarma said at a press conference.

He asserted that Muslims from the neighbouring country were attempting to cross over to seek employment in India's textile sector. "Thirty-five Muslim infiltrators have been arrested in the past month... they are trying to enter... but those coming are headed for Bangalore, Tamil Nadu, and Coimbatore to work in the textile industry," the CM claimed. "We have intercepted and pushed them back. Fortunately or unfortunately, they belong to one community," Sarma added.

Sarma explained that infiltrators traveling through Tripura, via Karimganj, reach South Indian cities by train. Those caught entering illegally are being apprehended by police forces from Assam and Tripura, and the BSF, he said. The CM maintained that if Hindus had wanted to come, they would have done so at the time of Partition. "They consider Bangladesh as their motherland, hence they did not come. We should have respect for them," the CM stated.

"We have asked our prime minister to impress upon the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of Hindus," said Sarma. On Bengali Hindus who migrated to India before 2014, the chief minister asserted that their numbers in Assam would be nowhere near 20 lakh, as claimed by anti-CAA activists. To ease the citizenship process, Sarma said, "Police have been directed not to visit them as they will take the CAA route... We are also trying for disposal of cases in Foreigners' Tribunals."

The Assam government is working to activate the biometrics of eligible immigrants, frozen during the NRC updating process, to ensure that Bengali Hindus do not face further problems, he said. "I don't think the number who will benefit from these measures is very high—maybe 20,000. But, anti-CAA activists provoked Assam's people by saying 20 lakh people would enter and get citizenship under CAA," Sarma stated.

Discussing the impact of a regime change in Bangladesh, Sarma said, "The northeast insurgency situation might change now... If an anti-India government is installed, we will have a problem."

Sarma indicated that instability in Bangladesh could affect the Paresh Barua-led ULFA (I). "Paresh Barua has 700 trained cadres and a network of well-wishers who are not well-wishers of India. With instability in Bangladesh, he gains power," he said.

"We cannot undermine this, but police should have more power to control the situation. ULFA(I) is not a dying organization, but we have had peace for three years and will ensure it continues," Sarma concluded.

(With inputs from agencies.)