In a charged statement during his address in Jharkhand, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned of an “increasing Muslim population” in the state, attributing this growth to the infiltration of illegal immigrants. Speaking as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) co-in-charge for the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, Sarma asserted that urgent action was needed to address the demographic shift.
“I ignite fire against infiltrators,” Sarma declared, comparing his stance to that of Hanuman Ji setting fire to Lanka. “We must set fire against infiltrators and make Jharkhand a golden land.” His rhetoric underscored the BJP’s strategy of an anti-infiltration campaign as it prepares to challenge the incumbent Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress alliance in the state’s two-phase election.
Sarma also claimed that Aadhaar cards are being issued to infiltrators through madrassas in Jharkhand, enabling them to obtain a foothold in the state. He cited Santhal Pargana as a critical area of concern, claiming that while the tribal population is declining, the Muslim population is on the rise.
“Not every Muslim is an infiltrator,” Sarma clarified, but questioned the pattern of growth. “How is the Muslim population increasing every five years? Are families giving birth to 10-12 children? If families aren’t having so many children, then surely people are coming in from outside,” he said, characterising the situation as “simple mathematics.”
In a direct attack on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Sarma accused him of supporting infiltrators, claiming that Soren’s administration has turned a blind eye to the issue. Sarma’s remarks resonated with slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” from the audience as he pledged that, if elected, the BJP would introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana region to identify and remove infiltrators.
The anti-infiltration theme has become a rallying cry for the BJP in the state, as it seeks to sway voters on the need for border security and demographic stability. Sarma further emphasised that while winning the election is important, the BJP’s primary focus is on “removing infiltrators from Santhal Pargana and ensuring justice for women.”
Sarma’s address aligns with the BJP’s broader narrative in several northeastern states, where party leaders have called for stricter identification measures and legal actions against suspected illegal residents. The promise to implement the NRC in Jharkhand reflects the party’s commitment to a nationwide solution, a proposition that has sparked debates across India about citizenship, religious demographics, and migration policies.
