Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said he would continue to pursue a politics of polarisation in the state, asserting that illegal infiltration from Bangladesh poses a serious threat to Assam’s demography and indigenous identity.
Speaking to the media, Sarma said Assam is already a polarised society and claimed such politics was necessary for the state’s survival. “Assam is polarised. For the next 30 years, we will have to practice a politics of polarisation if we want to live,” he said.
Clarifying his remarks, the Chief Minister said the polarisation he referred to was not religious, but between “Assamese people and Bangladeshis.” He added that Assamese Muslims were not the target of his comments and accused successive governments of failing to address the issue of illegal immigration effectively.
Sarma reiterated his long-standing allegation that Bangladeshi infiltrators were altering Assam’s demographic balance and influencing electoral politics in several districts. He claimed that unchecked infiltration could marginalise indigenous communities and erode the state’s cultural and political identity.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid heightened political debate over electoral roll revisions and citizenship-related issues in Assam, which have drawn sharp reactions from opposition parties and civil society groups.
Opposition leaders criticised Sarma’s statement, accusing the ruling BJP of promoting divisive politics and creating fear among communities. They urged the government to focus on administrative and border-management measures rather than rhetoric.
However, Sarma defended his stance, saying that raising concerns over infiltration was essential to protect Assam’s future. “If speaking up for Assamese people is polarisation, then I will do it,” he said.
Immigration and identity remain deeply sensitive and politically charged issues in Assam, which has witnessed decades of agitation over illegal migration and its impact on land, resources and representation.
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