Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Accuses TMC of Misrepresenting Anti-Infiltration Drive as Anti-Bengali

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his recent remarks, stating that his comments are being twisted to appear ‘anti-Bengali’.

The issue has drawn criticism from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which accused Sarma of linguistic chauvinism and xenophobia.

TMC Slams Sarma Over Alleged Anti-Bengali Statement

TMC leader Debangshu Bhattacharya launched a scathing attack on the Assam CM, stating, “This is @himantabiswa’s last-ditch attempt to veil his XENOPHOBIA and LINGUISTIC CHAUVINISM behind communal smokescreens.”

The controversy arose after Sarma reportedly stated that if someone mentions Bengali as their mother tongue in census documents, it becomes easier to identify the number of Bengalis in Assam.

TMC’s Kunal Ghosh responded strongly, saying, “@himantabiswa has made a preposterous and frankly outrageous claim that those who declare Bengali as their mother tongue in census documents are ‘Bangladeshi foreigners.’ Let’s remind him: our National Anthem is in Bengali. Our National Song is in Bengali.”

Bhattacharya further alleged on social media that Sarma’s government claims to target “illegal Bangladeshi Muslims,” yet the final NRC list excluded 19.6 lakh people, of which 12 lakh were Bengali Hindus. He questioned, “Was their faith the problem too? Or was it their language?”

Sarma Clarifies Government’s Stand on Immigration

Responding to the backlash, CM Sarma took to X to clarify his position. He said that the Trinamool Congress was deliberately misrepresenting his comments in an effort to protect Bangladeshi infiltrators.

He reiterated that his government’s campaign is directed against illegal immigration, not against Indian citizens who speak Bengali.

Sarma stated, “Assam has been fighting against Bangladeshi infiltrators for decades. The presence of these infiltrators can change the demographic structure of the country.”

He further added that Bengali-speaking Indian citizens living in Assam understand and support the government’s stance against illegal immigration.

Accusations of Misinterpretation by TMC

Sarma alleged that the TMC was attempting to frame him as anti-Bengali to conceal the issue of illegal migration. He maintained that his statements were not directed at Indian citizens but at illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Tagging Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, and BJP’s central observer Sunil Bansal, Sarma emphasized that the demographic integrity of Assam must be preserved.

He said, “Let it be made absolutely clear: in Assam, every Indian citizen—including Bengali-speaking people—fully understands our position and supports our uncompromising stand against illegal Muslim immigration from Bangladesh.”

TMC Counters with NRC and Detention Centre Figures

Continuing the war of words, Bhattacharya responded to Sarma’s clarification by questioning the exclusion figures from the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

“In the final NRC list, out of the 19.6 lakh people excluded, 12 lakh were Bengali Hindus,” he pointed out. He questioned whether their exclusion was also based on religion or language.

He further claimed that of the 30 people who died in Assam’s detention centres, all but four were Bengali-speaking.

He alleged, “Your track record shows only one unifying marker of persecution: Bengali. This isn’t about illegal immigration. This is about your PATHOLOGICAL HATRED for a language, a people, and a culture.”

Ongoing Political Tension Over Immigration

The political debate has intensified in the backdrop of Assam’s decades-long struggle with illegal immigration.

Sarma’s government continues to advocate for identifying and removing Bangladeshi infiltrators, a stance that has triggered sharp reactions from West Bengal’s ruling party.

While Sarma insists that his government draws a clear distinction between Indian citizens and illegal immigrants, critics argue that such comments and actions fuel suspicion and discrimination against Bengali-speaking communities.

The dispute underscores the ongoing regional tensions around identity, migration, and citizenship in Assam and neighbouring states.

With both sides holding firm, the issue remains a flashpoint in the broader national debate on immigration and linguistic identity.