Assam Chief Minister Biswa Supper Sarma. File | Photo credit: PTI
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that apart from demographic changes, the state is also witnessing an “economic shift” where Muslims are becoming more prosperous, and said this could mean the “surrender of the Assamese people” has begun.
Addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting on Sunday (November 9, 2025), Mr. Sarma said that the growth of the Hindu population in the state is declining while the number of Muslims is increasing.
“I have the data of Hindu and Muslim population growth between 2001 and 2011. In every block of Assam, Hindu population growth is decreasing and Muslim population is increasing,” he added.
“I noticed that the demographic changes happened rapidly. In a way, the chapter of surrender of the Assamese people began,” Sarma said.
The CM said the government was reviewing permission to sell land between Hindus and Muslims under a new directive issued last year. “We see that the sale of land from Hindus to Muslims is very high, while the reverse is less,” he said.
But he pointed out that these permits include many Assamese and indigenous Muslims and the BJP-led government has no problem with it.
“Apart from demographic changes, there has also been a shift in wealth creation. Till now we thought only the numbers have increased, but now we see that the pattern of wealth has also changed,” Sarma said.
The CM said he would hold a detailed press conference on the issue later and elaborate on it thereafter. “Sometimes you can accept demographic changes in population, but witnessing an economic shift signals destruction. We didn’t know about it earlier. But now we are getting the data because government permission (for land sale) is required,” the CM said.
Last year, the Assam government decided on the sale of land between Hindus and Muslims and made it mandatory to get the approval of the Chief Minister’s office before proceeding.
Published – November 10, 2025 12:20 PM IST
