Guwahati, July 30: The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday issued a sharp statement declaring its resolve to thwart what it called the ‘Miya Land’ agenda—a term the party uses to describe alleged demographic and cultural shifts driven by illegal immigration from Bangladesh and aggressive land encroachment by Bengali-origin Muslims.
In a press release, Kishor Kumar Upadhyay, Chief Spokesperson of Assam Pradesh BJP, accused previous Congress regimes of enabling the unchecked influx of over 1 crore illegal Bangladeshi-origin minorities, leading to what he described as an existential threat to Assam’s indigenous population, culture, and identity.
Using Census data from 1991 and 2011, Upadhyay pointed to districts like Dhubri and Barpeta where the Muslim population has reportedly surged, while the Hindu population either stagnated or declined. In Dhubri, the Muslim population increased by over 6 lakh in 20 years, while the Hindu population rose by just 5,563. In Barpeta, he noted, the Hindu population fell by 64,963, while the Muslim population grew significantly.
Upadhyay linked this demographic trend to cultural assertions such as the demand for a ‘Miya Museum’ at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, initiated by individuals like MLA Sherman Ali and poet Ashraful Hussain. These, he said, represent a broader ideological campaign to redefine Assam’s identity.
The BJP spokesperson also alleged widespread illegal encroachments on satra lands, forest areas, temple lands, and government reserves, particularly by Bengali-origin Muslim settlers. He warned that certain groups are using these encroachments and population figures—reportedly claiming 1.4 crore Muslims in the state—to threaten mass agitation aimed at transforming Assam into a religiously dominated region.
He cited instances such as the alleged renaming of Surya Pahar to “Qudratpur”, construction of madrasas on satra lands, and settlements like Jamai Bosti inside the historic Batadrava Satra, as part of a deliberate push toward cultural and religious expansion.
“The BJP, under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, is fully committed to resisting this agenda,” said Upadhyay. He asserted that the government’s mission is clear: to identify and deport illegal infiltrators, reclaim all illegally occupied lands, and protect the demographic and cultural integrity of Assam.
Calling it the BJP’s “foundational responsibility,” he said that the party would not compromise on issues of national security, identity, and land rights, and would take decisive legal and administrative steps to counter what it sees as a long-term geopolitical and cultural threat.
