The recent statement of Assam Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and BJP leader Dr. Numal Momin has sparked a new debate about the population structure of the state. He claimed that at the time of independence there was not a single Muslim-majority district, but now 15 districts of Assam have become Muslim-majority. He described it as a worrying situation for the social, cultural and political balance of the state.
Dr. Momin alleged that infiltration is taking place in a scientific and strategic manner from Lower Assam to Central and Upper Assam, which he termed as a well-planned effort. Giving an example, he said that in his childhood there were only 60–70 Muslim houses in Sarupathar area of Golaghat district, which has now increased to 6000–7000.
He said that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is serious about this issue and the state government is preparing to take strict action. Momin also targeted the Congress and alleged that the previous governments encouraged this change, and disturbed the population balance by supporting some radical organizations.
According to census data, the Muslim population in Assam was around 24% in 1951, which increased to around 34% in 2011. The 2021 census has not been conducted, but it is estimated that the figure has increased further. The districts which are being described as Muslim-dominated include Dhubri, Barpeta, Goalpara, Hailakandi, Karimganj, Morigaon, Nagaon, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Darang, Udalguri and Kokrajhar.
Experts attribute the decline in Hindu population to urbanisation, education and the trend of small families. But according to Momin, illegal infiltration and planned settlement from Bangladesh are the main reasons for this. Linking the issue to national security, he said that it should not be seen through political prism.
Chief Minister Sarma has previously said that population explosion is a serious problem in the state, and the government has taken steps like excluding people with more than two children from government jobs.
This statement has come at a time when there is already a debate going on about the population balance in Assam. Now that the state’s deputy speaker has called it a planned infiltration, the issue has once again come to the center of political and social discourse. In the coming times, the strategy of the central and state government and the new census data will give more clarity to this debate.