Centre Backs Assam Government’s Eviction Drive: CM Himanta

Fast Summary

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed on August 30, 2025, that the Center fully supports the state’s eviction drive targeting illegal encroachers.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that Assam and India must be free of illegal infiltrators, corroborating the state’s efforts too clear encroachments.
• The Assam government has removed over 160 sq km of encroached land since May 2021. Future evictions will target unauthorized occupations on forest lands and other public areas.
• Most individuals affected by these evictions are Bengali-speaking Muslims, many of whom say their families settled in these areas after losing land to erosion by the brahmaputra River.
• Actions against infiltration are ongoing under the Immigrant Expulsion Act for migrants post-1971 and for those caught entering illegally from bangladesh in recent times.
• Sarma criticized State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi for alleged links with Pakistan, claiming his wife made multiple trips between India and Pakistan-a charge repeated by Amit Shah during parliamentary proceedings and public speeches.
• The BJP’s election campaign for Assam’s 2026 assembly polls has been initiated by Amit Shah, with confidence expressed about securing a third term due to developmental work under PM Modi’s leadership.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Assam’s eviction drive holds meaningful socio-political ramifications as it seeks to address long-standing concerns over unauthorized settlement and demographic shifts in sensitive regions. While Chief Minister Sarma emphasizes central government backing as assurance of lawful measures, critics question its humanitarian impact on vulnerable populations like Bengali-speaking Muslims displaced due to natural disasters.

The pushback mechanisms outlined against infiltration reflect a strict policy focus on border management. Though, such actions may require thorough scrutiny to balance national security interests with individual rights.

The persistent attacks on opposition leaders signal an intensifying political narrative ahead of state elections in 2026. While BJP banks heavily on centralized progress narratives and strong organizational networks for electoral success, opposition parties will likely scrutinize both implementation outcomes of these policies and their inclusiveness across demographic divides.

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