News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/18th July 2024
Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev has strongly disputed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent statements about the growth of the Muslim population in Assam since 1951. This disagreement arose after Sarma’s comments at a press conference in Ranchi, where he expressed concerns over the changing demographics in Assam.
During the conference, Chief Minister Sarma asserted, “Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, the Muslim population has reached 40 percent today. In 1951, it was 12 percent.” He further claimed that tribal girls were being lured into inter-faith marriages by ‘illegal immigrants,’ which he described as a critical issue beyond political dimensions, calling it “a matter of life and death.”
These remarks quickly generated controversy, leading Sushmita Dev to challenge Sarma’s figures. The TMC MP posted a video on social media, accusing the Chief Minister of disseminating false information. “A false statement has come to light from Assam CM from Jharkhand. Firstly I want to tell that according to government data in 1952, 25 percent of the Muslim population was registered,” she stated.
Dev questioned the accuracy of Sarma’s numbers, pointing out the absence of a recent census. “I want to remind Assam CM that the Indian Government was supposed to conduct the population census but given the COVID-19 excuse, the census to date has not taken place…then how did the 40 percent figure come from?” she asked, highlighting the lack of updated demographic data.
Furthermore, Dev criticized the Chief Minister for not adequately securing the Indo-Bangladesh border, noting that only 78 percent of it has been sealed. This partial sealing, she implied, undermines the state’s efforts to control illegal immigration.
Sarma’s comments were made in the context of his role as co-in-charge of the assembly elections in Jharkhand. He warned the people of Jharkhand that the same issues affecting tribal women in Assam were occurring in their state, suggesting that a BJP government would address these concerns.
The controversy has not only sparked a political debate but also underscored the sensitivity of demographic changes and immigration issues in Assam. Sarma’s remarks and Dev’s rebuttal bring to light the complexities surrounding population data and the political implications of such statistics.
In summary, the clash between Sushmita Dev and Himanta Biswa Sarma reflects the broader political and social tensions in Assam. The dispute over the accuracy of population growth figures highlights the importance of reliable data and the potential for misinformation to influence public opinion and policy. As this debate continues, it remains crucial for political leaders to base their statements on verified information to maintain public trust and address the real issues facing their constituencies.
