Guwahati: A significant political storm has broken in the Rajya Sabha following remarks made by BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, who referred to Assam’s Dhubri district as a “mini Bangladesh.”
This statement was delivered during a discussion concerning voter duplication and the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Trivedi’s assertion was made while questioning the opposition’s stance on voter duplication, insisting that the issue of “citizen duplication” must first be addressed. He stated, “The opposition always speaks about voter duplication, but before that, they must clarify the issue of citizen duplication. Why don’t they agree to NRC? The issue will be resolved. When they claim doubts over voters, then why not NRC?”
The BJP MP further connected his controversial statement to the recent Rajya Sabha election results, particularly the landslide victory of Congress leader Rakibul Hussain in Dhubri, who won by over 10 lakh votes. He alleged that the reluctance to implement the NRC stemmed from the significant electoral influence exerted by illegal immigrants residing in the region. “Our colleagues from Assam call Dhubri a mini-Bangladesh, and that is why NRC is not being conducted. But they will still raise concerns over voter duplication,” Trivedi added.
The remarks drew immediate and sharp criticism from various quarters, including legal and political experts. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde voiced his concerns via his X handle, labeling the statement “dangerous for India’s security.” Hegde questioned Trivedi’s historical understanding of the region, asking, “Does he even know how Gopinath Bordoloi persuaded the people of Dhubri to stay with India and not go with Pakistan? The result was the wiggle room we have in our chicken neck with the Northeast. Such statements are positively dangerous for India’s security.”
In response to the escalating controversy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to X to defend the historical identity of Dhubri. He clarified that the district, formerly part of Goalpara, has been home to indigenous communities for generations. “The entire district of Goalpara has been predominantly inhabited by indigenous communities such as the Bodo and Koch-Rajbongshi tribes. These groups have deep-rooted cultural and historical ties to Bharat. There is no evidence to suggest that these indigenous populations ever expressed a desire to join Pakistan or sought a referendum for such a purpose. Concerns about demographic changes due to immigration are real and genuine,” Sarma wrote.
Trivedi’s comments have reignited the long-standing debate surrounding the NRC in Assam. The BJP has consistently advocated for the completion of the NRC process to identify and remove illegal immigrants, while the opposition has raised concerns about the process’s implementation, citing potential exclusion and procedural deficiencies. The NRC, which was last updated in 2019, excluded approximately 19 lakh people. The BJP-led government has repeatedly called for a fresh review of the NRC, alleging that the existing list is flawed and includes many illegal immigrants.