The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called off its plan to celebrate ‘Bihar Diwas’ in Tinsukia, Assam, following strong opposition from regional political parties and community-based organizations. The event, originally scheduled for March 22, faced backlash from indigenous groups and opposition leaders, forcing the party to reconsider its decision. State BJP president and Member of Parliament Dilip Saikia confirmed the cancellation on Wednesday night, stating that the party did not wish to hurt local sentiments. However, he defended the initiative, citing that states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Nagaland have previously celebrated ‘Assam Diwas’ to promote cultural unity.
“The celebration was planned as ‘Sneh Milan Utsav’ (festival of affection and togetherness) under the BJP’s ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ campaign, aimed at fostering national integration. But in view of the protests, we have decided to cancel the Tinsukia event. However, ‘Bihar Diwas’ will still be observed in other parts of Assam,” Saikia said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly condemned the opposition, terming it an example of divisive politics. He argued that Assamese people living in other states participate in local celebrations, and similar cultural exchanges should be welcomed in Assam. “If Assam Diwas is celebrated in other states, why should we not reciprocate? Such narrow-mindedness can discourage investment and create unnecessary divisions,” he said.
The United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) issued a warning against the celebration, calling Bihar a symbol of “Indian occupational forces” and threatening severe consequences if the event proceeded. Various indigenous groups, including the Ahoms and Morans, also voiced their objections. Opposition leader and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi accused the BJP of using the event as a political tool to gain support from Hindi-speaking voters ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) also criticized the move, alleging that it was an attempt to appease migrant communities at the cost of Assamese identity.