India: ‘Matter of life and death,’ says CM Sarma as Muslim population in Assam reaches 40%

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of the Northeastern Indian state of Assam said Wednesday (Jul 17) that the rising Muslim population in the state was a matter of 'life and death' for him. Sarma,from theruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said changing demography in Assam was concerning for his government as the Muslim population in the state has reached 40 per cent.

“Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, Muslim population has reached 40% today. In 1951, it was 12%. We have lost many districts. This is not a political issue for me. It is a matter of life and death for me,” the BJP leader was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Sarma is known for making statements targeting the Muslim community.

On July 1, the Assam CM attributed the rise in crime rate to a ‘particular religion’, without mentioning any community.

"I am not saying that crime is committed only by people of a particular religion but recent incidents since the just concluded Lok Sabha elections is a matter of concern," Sarma had said.

Earlier in June, he said the opposition Congress was receiving votes from Bangladeshi 'minority community' in the Lok Sabha elections. He also alleged that the minority community is the only one that indulges in communalism.

“A particular religion openly went against our government in those states, and that religion has tremendous followers in those states. So that has made a difference. It is not a political defeat, because nobody can fight with a religion,” Sarma had said.

In an interview with Indian Express in May this year, Sarma said “Islamophobia is real for many Hindus”.

“Islamophobia is real for many of us. Because there are sections of Muslims in our country who hate the majority community. If you see my election speeches in Assam, I have not mentioned the Muslim word at all and I have campaigned intensely in Muslim-dominated areas. I have transformed a large section of Muslim community from being Hindu haters to those who can coexist with Hindus. Transformation has happened in many places in Assam, so the incidents of love jihad have come down, incidents of land grabbing have come down,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)