Guwahati, June 15: The Assam Civil Society (ACS) issued a sharp rebuke of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent remarks on foreign nationals and the NRC, accusing him of bypassing the legal process to advance a political agenda and stir communal tension.
In a strongly worded statement, ACS president H.R.A. Choudhury warned that Sarma’s comments suggest dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court-backed NRC process and disregard for the role of Foreigners Tribunals (FTs).
“The deportation of illegal immigrants must be done through judicial process—not political diktat,” Choudhury said, adding that Assam Police have no authority to push people back to Bangladesh based on suspicion alone.
The civil society body pointed to a recent incident where 19 individuals were returned to India by the BSF after being illegally pushed across the border, only to be brought back after a court intervention. “The Chief Minister seems willing to trample on human rights to pursue his own will,” Choudhury said.
He also condemned Sarma’s accusation that activist Harsh Mander had been working in Assam for two years to sabotage the NRC process. “If the CM truly has evidence, why hasn’t he acted for years? Or is it just another attempt to scapegoat civil society voices?”
Choudhury alleged that Sarma’s statements were aimed at intimidating religious minorities in Assam. “Democratic and secular forces will not allow such divisive tactics to succeed,” he warned.
Turning to a recent incident in Dhubri, Choudhury condemned the dumping of beef at the Hanuman temple, calling it a deliberate attempt to provoke communal unrest. He demanded strict legal action against the culprits but criticized the Chief Minister’s “shoot at sight” order, saying it would only heighten panic and confusion.
He pointed to past incidents where non-Muslim individuals—including BJP-linked persons—were involved in similar provocations: In October 2021, Biswajit Ray was accused of dumping beef in a Darrang temple.
In February 2022, Rajen Mazumdar and his sons were arrested for dumping banned meat at a Shiv Temple in Silchar.
“These cases are well documented and even reported in the media,” Choudhury said. “The government must act with law and order—not selective outrage.”
He urged the Chief Minister to de-escalate tensions and “control the situation with an iron hand—not with inflammatory rhetoric.”
