Guwahati: Controversy has erupted in Assam following remarks by activist and former Planning Commission member Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, who suggested that Bangladeshis have a right to live in the state. Her comments, made during a recent visit, have triggered a fiery debate over immigration, human rights, and national sovereignty, drawing sharp criticism from the government and its supporters.
Hameed, while addressing reporters, questioned the ongoing eviction drives, stating, “What is wrong if they are Bangladeshis? Bangladeshis are also humans. Earth is so large; Bangladeshis can live here. Not depriving anyone’s rights.” She further added a religious context, saying, “Allah has made this earth for humans, not for devils. If a person is standing on earth, to evict them is quamat (apocalypse) for Muslims.” She accused the Assam government of targeting Muslims by branding them as Bangladeshis and dismissed claims that illegal immigrants infringe on citizens’ rights as “extremely mischievous and detrimental to humanity.”
The comments drew an immediate and strong rebuke from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who took to social media platform X to condemn her statements as “misleading in the name of humanity.” Rijiju accused Hameed of undermining India’s sovereignty and identity, stating that her remarks were an affront to the nation’s integrity. He also questioned why minority communities like Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs face persecution in Bangladesh and Pakistan, implicitly contrasting their plight with the situation of undocumented immigrants. In a sharp personal attack, he linked Hameed to the Congress leadership, saying, “Syeda Hameed may be closest to Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi but shouldn’t support illegal migrants.”
Hameed, who was part of a delegation that included prominent figures like Prashant Bhushan and Harsh Mandar, visited Assam to assess the ground realities regarding citizenship, evictions, and the treatment of Muslims. The delegation’s visit was organised by Asom Nagarik Sanmilan, a local civil society forum. Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, a member of the forum, explained that they often invite eminent personalities to discuss and offer perspectives on pressing issues.
During their interaction with the media, while Hameed criticized the government for creating hardships for the Muslim community, Prashant Bhushan alleged that Indian Muslims were being unlawfully deported to Bangladesh. “It is clear that the Assam government under Himanta Biswa Sarma is engaged in unlawful and illegal activities, including pushing out Indian citizens to Bangladesh, evicting people from their land, and demolishing homes,” Bhushan claimed. The delegation also stated that they were restricted from accessing Goalpara district, where evictions from forest land have reportedly taken place.
The provocative remarks have fanned the flames of an already contentious issue in Assam, where concerns over illegal immigration from Bangladesh have long been a focal point of state politics and social discourse. Hameed’s statements have reignited the debate, putting the spotlight once again on the delicate balance between humanitarian concerns, national laws, and the protection of indigenous rights.
Read More: India’s Parul Singh a Shining Star at Miss Ocean World 2025