Pointing out the magnitude of demographic change in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that if the current growth rate is maintained, the Muslim population in Assam will almost equal that of Hindus by the year 2041, exactly 16 years from now.
In a press conference held after a cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, CM Sarma said that according to the 2011 census, out of the nearly 34 per cent Muslim population, 31 per cent are those who migrated to Assam earlier. When asked if the indigenous people of Assam will become a minority after a few years, he said, "This is not my opinion; it is only the result of the census. Today, according to the 2011 census, 34 per cent of the population is Muslim."
Three per cent indigenous Assamese Muslims
While three per cent of the total Muslim population of the state are indigenous Assamese Muslims, he claimed, "...then 31 per cent are those Muslims who migrated to Assam. And if you project it for 2021, 2031, and 2041, you will arrive at almost a 50:50 situation. I am only quoting what the statistical census report says.'
The chief minister said empirical data and previous census records show that in a few years, Assam's Muslim population will be close to 50 per cent. According to the 2011 census, the total Muslim population in Assam was 1.07 crore, which makes up 34.22 per cent of the state's total 3.12 crore inhabitants. There were around 1.92 crore Hindus in the state, which is around 61.47 per cent of the total population.
Over 11 districts are Muslim-majority
The BJP has regularly highlighted the population shift, pointing out that at least nine districts have become Muslim-majority as per the 2011 census, up from six in 2001, and the number has currently risen to at least 11, though the 2021 census report is yet to be prepared. In 2001, when Assam had 23 districts, Muslims were in the majority in six districts—Dhubri (74.29), Goalpara (53.71), Barpeta (59.37), Nagaon (51), Karimganj (52.3), and Hailakandi (57.63).
The number of districts rose to 27 in 2011, and nine of these were Muslim-majority. These were Dhubri (79.67), Goalpara (57.52), Barpeta (70.74), Morigaon (52.56), Nagaon (55.36), Karimganj (56.36), Hailakandi (60.31), Bongaigaon (50.22), and Darrang (64.34).
When asked about the encroachment drive, Sarma claimed that about 29 lakh bigha (about 10 lakh acres) of land in the state was under encroachment. The encroachment drive will continue... (but) I cannot plan for so much land. My life will end, but even then, all the encroached land will not be vacated. On Monday, Sarma had claimed that this huge amount of land was under encroachment by "illegal Bangladeshis and doubtful citizens".
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