A war of words has erupted between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee over the issue of linguistic and religious identity politics in the Northeast.
Reacting sharply to Banerjee’s criticism of the BJP’s alleged divisive agenda in Assam, Sarma launched a scathing counterattack, accusing her of endangering Bengal’s future by playing vote-bank politics.
In a strongly worded post on microblogging site X, Sarma said, “Didi, let me remind you—unlike you, we are not fighting our own people. We are fearlessly resisting the ongoing, unchecked Muslim infiltration from across the border, which has already caused an alarming demographic shift.”
He claimed that illegal infiltration was not merely a political issue, but a threat to national security and identity, referencing the Supreme Court’s earlier observation that termed illegal immigration as “external aggression.”
Sarma further alleged that this unchecked migration has led to Hindus becoming minorities in several districts of Assam.
The Chief Minister’s response comes amid growing tensions between the BJP-led Assam government and the TMC-led West Bengal government, with Banerjee recently accusing the BJP of stirring up linguistic tensions in Assam by marginalising Bengali-speaking populations.
Rejecting the allegation, Sarma underlined Assam’s pluralism: “We do not divide people by language or religion. Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Hindi—all languages and communities have coexisted here. But no civilisation can survive if it refuses to protect its borders and its cultural foundation.”
He accused Banerjee of encouraging illegal encroachment and communal appeasement, asserting that the West Bengal Chief Minister had remained silent as infiltration continued across the international border with Bangladesh.
“You, Didi, have compromised Bengal’s future—encouraging illegal encroachment, appeasing one religious community for vote banks, and turning a blind eye to border infiltration—all for the sake of political power.”
Sarma continued to frame Assam’s politics around the protection of culture, land, and identity. “Assam will continue to fight to preserve its heritage, its dignity, and its people—with courage and constitutional clarity,” he said.