“Do Not Rent Houses to Unknown People”: CM Sarma’s Appeal Sparks Political Storm

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent comments describing certain groups as “unknown people” and his call for intensified eviction drives have sparked sharp political backlash, particularly from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sarma reiterated that the government would continue its crackdown on illegal encroachments across the state. “Eviction drive will be carried out anywhere against all the unknown people in the state, alike in Uriamghat and a few other places,” the Chief Minister said. He added that the government had chalked out more such operations in the coming months.

Sarma urged residents not to allow unidentified individuals to rent or occupy their homes, warning that it made enforcement difficult. “If anyone is found occupying land in Upper Assam, our drives will continue. But I will urge the locals not to allot their house on rent to those unknown people, else we might not be able to evict them,” he said.

The Chief Minister further insisted that citizens must cooperate with the administration. “Assam government alone cannot overcome this issue; every citizen will have to help. No work should be given to these people in any industry. Contractors must be aware. They should not be called even for agriculture-related work,” Sarma added.

Earlier, addressing a public gathering, Sarma had expressed concern over demographic changes in the state. “In the 2027 census, we will find a drop of more than 60 percent in the population rate of the Assamese community. Once, we never realised that we would be a minority in our own land,” he said, alleging that the population of these “unknown people” had expanded rapidly across Assam. “They were once limited to parts of Sadiya, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh. Today they have spread across the state and indulged in cattle smuggling, drug peddling and many other illegal activities,” he claimed.

These remarks drew an immediate and strong response from AIUDF.

Addressing a press conference, party MLA Aminul Islam launched a fierce attack on the Chief Minister, accusing him of spreading communal divides. “The Chief Minister is bringing conflict into Assam’s centuries-old unity,” Islam said, adding that Sarma was “trying to portray Muslims as anti-Assamese.”

Islam argued that no earlier Chief Minister had ever made such inflammatory statements. “No former Chief Minister of Assam has behaved like this. None ever tried to spread hatred by saying they will punish Miya people,” he said.

In a surprising political contrast, Islam praised former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. “Sarbananda Sonowal took everyone along. He never divided society. He led all communities together,” the AIUDF leader remarked.

The party also linked its criticism to the ongoing investigation into the death of famed singer Zubeen Garg. Islam said the SIT must act impartially: “The chargesheet should not be prepared to save anyone. People have doubts—even about the Chief Minister.”

Issuing a political call ahead of the next Assembly elections, AIUDF said it would contest only 35 seats and support anti-BJP parties elsewhere. “We appeal to the people to ensure Himanta Biswa Sarma cannot become Chief Minister again,” Islam declared.

He also warned that the Chief Minister’s suggestion of denying work to certain communities could severely damage the state’s economy. “If you remove so-called unknown people from labour and agriculture, Assam’s GDP will fall,” he said.

Despite AIUDF’s frontal attack, political circles continue to debate the party’s alleged covert proximity to the BJP, an accusation the AIUDF has repeatedly dismissed. The ongoing exchange underscores escalating political tensions in Assam ahead of the next electoral cycle.

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