Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday reiterated the state government’s tough stance on the “foreigner” issue, stating that there is no question of seeking Bangladesh’s consent while pushing back illegal immigrants. He revealed that around 2,000 foreigners have been pushed back over the past few months.
According to the Chief Minister, once a person is declared a “foreigner,” the government is ensuring that the pushback is completed within a week, leaving no scope for the individual to approach the High Court or the Supreme Court. Citing Supreme Court orders, Sarma said that district commissioners (DCs) are empowered to deport individuals once they are legally declared foreigners.
Under the new policy framework, the Chief Minister claimed that 10,000 to 15,000 foreigners can be identified and deported every year, with the Government of India playing an active role in the process.
Addressing allegations that some deported foreigners are returning through illegal routes, Sarma said many such individuals are currently staying in Dhaka and speak broken Assamese, indicating their earlier presence in Assam. He asserted that the state government is determined to recover government and private land encroached upon by foreigners and remains confident about its deportation drive.
Responding to Bangladesh’s reported position that a declaration by an Assam court does not automatically establish Bangladeshi nationality—and that deportation without proper identity verification and repatriation procedures is unacceptable—Sarma said the Assam government would no longer adhere to extradition norms or verification protocols. “No country will willingly take the burden of lakhs of people. Therefore, whatever happens, we will push them back directly,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that 18 people were pushed back on Wednesday alone.
In the same context, Sarma appealed for empathy towards both indigenous Muslim and indigenous Hindu communities, stating that Assam can only be saved if the two groups stand united. He expressed concern over issues such as the beef trade in districts like Dhubri and cases of ‘love jihad’, reiterating that indigenous Hindus and Muslims enjoy equal rights in the state.
However, he maintained that beef sale should be prohibited in Hindu-majority areas. He also urged the indigenous Muslim community to take the lead in opposing illegal foreign Muslims, stressing that indigenous people must become more proactive even in minority-dominated areas.
Concluding his remarks, the Chief Minister said, “Both sides must understand each other’s pain—only then can Assam’s future be secured.”
No question of Bangladesh’s consent in pushbacks: Himanta calls for unity among indigenous people
