Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on February 24, criticized the Opposition for what he termed “vote bank politics,” labeling it a significant threat to the nation. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting the interests of Assam through the Special Intensive Pushback (SIP) initiative, which aims to enhance border enforcement and internal security. Sarma outlined that the ongoing SIP strategy is designed as a long-term solution to secure Assam’s present and future, with a recent operation resulting in the pushback of 20 individuals suspected of being illegal infiltrators.
Emphasizing this as part of a larger protective strategy, he expressed the government’s dedication to maintaining Assam’s demographic balance and bolstering its internal security systems. While not naming specific opposition parties, Sarma accused elements within them of promoting vote bank politics at the expense of the country’s welfare. He cleverly defended the SIP initiative by comparing it to the financial concept of systematic investment plans (SIP), asserting its strategic significance. This discourse occurs amid continuing political controversies surrounding border management, identification of illegal immigrants, and the implementation of rigorous administrative tactics to counter infiltration challenges.