GUWAHATI: In a powerful assertion of the government’s steadfast resolve against land encroachment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday appealed to the state’s citizens to deny shelter to those evicted during ongoing clearance drives. Speaking in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), the Chief Minister warned that offering refuge to these individuals could reverse the significant gains made in protecting the land rights and identity of indigenous communities. His remarks come amidst a continuing series of anti-encroachment operations across the state, which have drawn both support and scrutiny.
Sarma’s message was unequivocal: “Our people should not give them shelter. Otherwise, our position, which has become a little good through evictions and other steps, will become bad again.” He framed the eviction drives not just as administrative actions but as a critical mission to safeguard the interests of the Assamese “jati,” or community. Citing staggering figures, the Chief Minister claimed that approximately 29 lakh bighas—more than 9.5 lakh acres—of land remain under illegal occupation. He assured the public that the government would press on with these operations, provided it receives public cooperation, stating, “A lot of work is to be done, and if people cooperate with us, we will be able to do it and protect our jati.”
The Chief Minister also addressed the possibility of evicted persons relocating to other parts of Assam, expressing confidence that a more aware public would not assist them. “Our people are conscious now. I don’t think they will cooperate a lot,” he said. He further clarified that the state had no objection if the evicted individuals “returned from where they came from,” a statement that reiterated his previous allegations that many encroachers are “illegal Bangladeshis” and “doubtful citizens.” Sarma also highlighted the recent eviction drive in the Uriamghat area along the Assam-Nagaland border, noting that it was conducted peacefully with the cooperation of Naga residents and their government.
In a charged part of his address, Sarma accused the alleged encroachers, without naming any specific community, of being a source of various social ills. He claimed they were responsible for “love jihad” and “land jihad,” and were transforming forests into commercial plantations and fisheries. “We are the ones who should cry, but they are shedding tears,” he remarked. The government claims to have cleared over 1.29 lakh bighas of land in the past four years, predominantly occupied by what Sarma calls “illegal Bangladeshis” and doubtful citizens. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a phased clearance of unauthorized occupations on public lands, including Village Grazing Reserves (VGR), Professional Grazing Reserves (PGR), Satras, Namghars, and forest lands.
The Chief Minister’s strong stance follows his statements on Sunday, where he sought to alleviate fears among indigenous communities by assuring them that the government “will never evict any Indian or Assamese people.” He had previously made it clear that unauthorized occupation by indigenous groups would not be considered encroachment. These pronouncements come amid a growing political debate, with opposition parties and human rights groups raising humanitarian concerns about the nature and targets of Assam’s ongoing eviction drives.