Assam Eviction Row: Former Planning Commission member and activist Sayyed Sayyed Hamid made a statement in Assam justifying the “right” of Bangladeshis to stay in India. Her statement created a stir in political circles. The BJP called it an attempt by the Congress to “justify illegal infiltration and demographic occupation”.
Assam visit and visit of officials
Hamid recently went to Assam with a team of opposition leaders and policy makers. The team included Harsh Mander, Wajahat Habibullah, Fayaz Shaheen, Prashant Bhushan and Jawahar Sircar. They visited Goalpara and surrounding areas, where the state government is running a campaign against Bangladeshis.
Syeda Hameed, once picked by Congress for the Planning Commission, claimed Bangladeshis have a right to exist in India; no wonder she was also rewarded with a Padma Shri in 2007.
This is Congress, rewarding those who justify illegal infiltration and demographic seizure. pic.twitter.com/JEKAqafIiz
— Ashok Singhal (@TheAshokSinghal) August 24, 2025
Hamid’s controversial statement
Speaking to the media after the visit, Hamid said that Bangladeshis have a right to stay. He said, “Bangladeshis are also humans. The earth is very big, Bangladeshis can also live here. They are not being deprived of anyone’s rights. If a human is living somewhere, then why is he being removed so ruthlessly.”
Misleading in the name of humanity. It's about our land and identity. Why the minority Buddhists, Christians, Hindus & Sikhs in Bangladesh and Pakistan are persecuted & tortured?
Sayeda Hameed may be closest to Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi but shouldn't support illegal migrants. pic.twitter.com/zOs5lFwFvj
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 25, 2025
Chief Minister and political reactions
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly opposed Hamid’s statement. He said that this party has come only to distort the facts. Sarma wrote on social media that this party is trying to portray “legitimate removal as a humanitarian crisis” and will not create any obstacle in protecting the land and culture of Assam.
This is Syeda Hameed, former member of the Planning Commission during congress era. Just look at the audacity! If she feels so strongly about the “rights” of illegal Bangladeshis in Assam, why doesn’t she accommodate them in her own home? Perhaps her like-minded friends can also… pic.twitter.com/7ZVdtx3uDc
— BJP Assam Pradesh (@BJP4Assam) August 24, 2025
Argument and Assam Jan Sabha’s reaction
Assam Jan Parishad also condemned Hamid’s statement. The organization’s general secretary Tolan Konwar said that Hamid cannot understand the situation in Assam because she was not born there. He questioned that saying that Assam cannot live without Bangladeshis is to ignore the history and movement of Assam.
