Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again stirred national attention with his latest remarks on land encroachment in the state. Speaking at a public function in Gorukhuti, Darrang district, Sarma claimed that nearly 10 lakh acres of land in Assam remain occupied by what he described as “illegal Bangladeshis and doubtful citizens.” The Chief Minister reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to carrying out eviction drives aimed at reclaiming state-owned land for development and environmental purposes. The statement was made during the fourth anniversary celebration of the Gorukhuti Multipurpose Agriculture Project, a flagship initiative launched in 2021 after a controversial eviction campaign that forcibly removed thousands from state land. The drive, which cleared over 25,500 acres—or more than 77,000 bighas—triggered widespread protests and condemnation following the deaths of two individuals, including a 12-year-old boy, in police firing. Reflecting on the aftermath of the Gorukhuti episode, Sarma noted that the incident became a turning point for the state’s land management policy. “After the successful eviction here, we were emboldened to undertake similar drives across Assam,” Sarma said to a gathering of local residents, government officials, and project workers. “In the last four years alone, we have cleared 1.29 lakh bighas of land—around 43,000 acres—which is now being put to use for afforestation, agricultural productivity, and public projects.”
Sarma’s speech carried both celebration and urgency. The land reclaimed, he said, is only a fraction of what remains illegally occupied. “We estimate that around 29 lakh bighas—or close to 10 lakh acres—are still under illegal encroachment. This is land that rightfully belongs to the people of Assam,” he stated. The Chief Minister added that the encroachments are primarily by people he termed “suspected Bangladeshis” and “doubtful citizens,” a phrase that has often drawn criticism for its implications on minority communities, particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims. Despite facing strong pushback, Sarma appeared resolute. “We did face international pressure after the Gorukhuti drive. Human rights bodies, foreign observers—they all raised concerns. But our priority is to protect Assam’s land and demographic integrity,” he said. “We have taken a pledge to clear every inch of our land from encroachers.” The Gorukhuti project, born from one of the most contentious eviction operations in Assam’s recent history, has since evolved into a symbol of the government’s developmental agenda. Once the site of resistance and tragedy, it now showcases rows of paddy fields, vegetable farms, and community development infrastructure. Sarma held it up as a successful example of land restoration. “This was once land under illegal occupation. Today, it is green with crops, feeding the people and fueling our economy,” he said.
However, the government’s strategy has sparked widespread debate and criticism from opposition leaders, civil rights activists, and international observers. Critics allege that the eviction drives lack transparency and disproportionately affect poor and marginalised communities, especially religious minorities. “The evictions are creating humanitarian crises,” said a local activist from Barpeta. “Families are left homeless with no rehabilitation, no legal recourse, and no warning in many cases.”