Assam Chief Minister Launches Aggressive Campaign Ahead of Assembly Elections

As the Assam Assembly elections approach next year, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has kicked off an assertive campaign in his distinctive style. The BJP-led Assam government has recently intensified its legal efforts to identify and expel 'illegal Bangladeshi' immigrants, while also cracking down on the illegal slaughter of cattle and the sale of beef in the state. Furthermore, the government has successfully conducted eviction drives to remove encroachments from 82 bighas of village grazing reserve (VGR) land in Nalbari district.

In a decisive move, Sarma's administration arrested nearly 100 individuals for posting pro-Pakistan content on social media during recent military tensions between India and Pakistan, signaling that praising Pakistan while residing in India will not be tolerated. Additionally, the recent decision to issue weapon licenses to 'indigenous' people has been perceived as a stringent measure against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

Regarding the identification and expulsion of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, the Sarma government has reactivated the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act of 1950. This law empowers the central government and district magistrates to expel individuals who have entered Assam from outside India and whose presence is deemed contrary to public interest. According to Chief Minister Sarma, this legal route is significantly more effective than judicial processes, and a recent constitutional bench of the Supreme Court has validated this approach.

Moreover, Chief Minister Sarma has linked security and illegal immigration to 'population balance.' His administration has initiated strict actions against land encroachments by illegal Bengali-speaking Muslims and is actively addressing incidents related to beef sales. Approximately 200 individuals have been arrested for violating the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, with over 1.7 tons of suspected beef seized statewide. According to Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh, a statewide operation was launched on Tuesday to investigate illegal cattle slaughter and unauthorized beef sales in restaurants. He noted that searches were conducted in 178 hotels, restaurants, and slaughterhouses across nearly all districts of Assam. The campaign against violations of the Act will continue in the coming days. It is important to mention that while beef consumption is not illegal in Assam, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, prohibits cattle slaughter and beef sales in areas where Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs are in the majority, as well as within a five-kilometer radius of any temple or Vaishnav monastery.

Additionally, the Assam government has initiated an eviction drive to clear encroachments from 82 bighas of village grazing reserve (VGR) land in Nalbari district. This operation commenced under tight security in the Bakrikuchi village of the Barkhetri revenue circle. District Commissioner Nibedan Das Patwari informed reporters that a notice was issued to encroachers on June 3, instructing them to vacate the VGR land, but they approached the Guwahati High Court. The High Court ordered that all VGR land across the state be vacated. It is noteworthy that VGR land is reserved for grazing livestock in villages. The regional officer reported that a total of 452 bighas of land had been encroached upon, but only 82 bighas had been developed into homes. The encroachers were using the remaining land for fish farming and agriculture. It is important to highlight that most of those who have built homes on government land in Assam are Bangladeshi Muslims.

Given the current political climate in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appears to be politically strong, while the opposition Congress finds itself in a dilemma. If they oppose Sarma's initiatives, they risk being labeled as 'foreign supporters.' Conversely, remaining silent could undermine their purported secular image. Recently, MP Gaurav Gogoi was appointed as the state president of Congress, but the BJP has targeted him over his foreign-born wife.

Overall, Sarma's strategy aims not only to consolidate the BJP's traditional voter base but also to redefine the political narrative in the state. By intertwining issues of migration, identity, religion, and security, he is crafting a narrative that could yield electoral benefits. Furthermore, the rapid development in Assam, the various forms of support from the central government, and the near eradication of insurgency have contributed to Sarma's image as a pro-development leader.